Uncertainty and Power Inversion in Coalition Formation: Again Strength is Weakness

The standard pachisiboard game was used to study the effect of uncertainty on coalition formation. Three conditions were investigated. In the deterministic condition the chance of future success of any coalition is equal to 1ṁ00. In both probabilistic conditions the chance of future success of any coalition is less than 1ṁ00. Uncertainty had no effect on coalition formation: a power inversion effect was found in all three conditions. There was a discrepancy between players' expectancies about coalition before the game and the actual coalition formation during the game. Results of an additional experiment suggest that a coalition with A must be made very attractive for B and C before power inversion can be cancelled.