Effects of different interaction attitudes on a multi-agent system performance

This paper explores the respective advantages of different interaction attitudes of simple agents in a common simulated environment. The attitudes (solitary, parasite, selfish, and social) have been defined along the two dimensions of self-sufficiency and help-giving. A number of experiments have investigated (a) in what degree the performance of a social system would be impaired by the presence of different kinds of exploiter; (b) which degree of self-sufficient attitude would be more advantageous. Two results are presented and discussed: the robustness of the "social" interaction attitude (both giving and seeking help), that allows to tolerate the exploiters without risking dangerous consequences for the entire social system; and the importance of the self-sufficient attitude, compared with a total dependence on or exploitation of others.