On Lion Pride
by Hashimori Iwato

Recently T.J. Pempel wrote that "the implicit assumptions of rat choice,
especially concerning group norms, don't work with lions". Although I am not
exactly sure to which group norms he was referring, I find the behavior of the
lions which he described to be perfectly rational.

Mr. Pempel what sort of sanctions or rewards were you expecting?

Although I am better suited for cherry blossom watching than lion watching, but
have not spent much time doing either, I find that your lions behaved perfectly
rationally. If I may assume that the person- ality of a lion lies somewhere
between that of a cat and a monkey -- independent and self-seeking on the one
hand, and socially dependent and gregarious on the other; then I would have
expected, based on the utility function of an individual lion, exactly the
behavior which you have described.

Is not the dominant lion the center of the pride's focus by virtue of his
dominance. As a subordinate lion I would always be wary of the whereabouts of
the dominant lion for fear of getting in his way, and would never approach him,
but with extreme caution, when he had something I wanted -- like the carcass of
a fresh kill. As a dominant lion on the other hand, I would simply go about by
business enjoying the pleasure of my fellow lions knowing that I had nothing to
fear from anyone in my pride.

Assuming that lions are indeed gregarious, when the pride is menaced, the first
reaction would likely be one of disruption. Where before the focus of attention
was on the dominant lion, now the focus of attention would be on the dominant
lion AND the intruder. This shift in focus away from the dominant lion, would be
immediately felt by the dominant lion. Being the dominant lion I would seek to
restore the previous focus by confronting the intruder. In this moment I would
be preoccupied by the intruder and would have no time to be concerned
unnecessarily about the pride. On the other hand, as a subordinate lion, I would
likely be confused. On the one hand, no longer would I have to fear the dominant
lion, because he would be preoccupied with the intruder. On the other hand, my
focus of attention would be turned to the dominant lion engaged in his new
struggle for dominance. Certainly my attachment to the pride would prevent me
from running, unless of course others in the pride took flight. But then again,
because everyone's attention is turned toward the dominant lion, the pride
remains.

In the end each member of the pride looks after himself (the "cat" aspect), and
no one abandons the pride (the "monkey" aspect).

Assuming that the battle has been won by the "good guys" and the dominant lion
has reestablished his dominance, there would be no reason for penalties or
rewards, because everyone got what he wanted.

I'll leave it to you to find the road back to humanity. Please rest assured, I
am not a lion and the only lion I have seen in Japan is the one in front of
Mitsukoshi Depato. (Note: Mitsukoshi Department S tore is perhaps on par with
Macy's of New York, but far more widespread in Japan than Macy's in the United
States)

Hashimori Iwato

P.S. Because I am new to this list, I apologize for not having introduced myself
first. I am an instructor in both the Economics and Liberal Arts Departments at
Saitama University, which is a national university located in Saitama Prefecture
just north of Tokyo. I am looking forward to more discussions on rational
choice. It is the one thing I have methodologically in common with political
scientists.