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Three modes of behavior have been hypothesized in response to the Prisoner's Dilemma game and other cooperative/competitive games: a behavior mode that maximizes one's own gain, a behavior mode that maximizes joint gain, or a mode that maximizes relative gain. Since all behavior is a function, in part, of the individual's personality, it was hypothesized that a distinct personality pattern would be expected to be associated with each mode. Using a decomposed game format offering three unique choices and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, the responses of 239 12th grade students were analyzed in a two-factor multivariate analysis of variance model. Although three unique response groups were identified, only two distinct personality patterns emerged: a joint and an own-relative mode. Proposed explanations of these findings include the interaction of personality structure with authoritarianism and with cognitive and ego/moral developmental stages.

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