On Guilt Aversion in Symmetric 2×2 Anti-Coordination Games

This paper examines how guilt aversion affects the equilibria of symmetric 2×2 games with the same Nash equilibrium structure as the Hawk–Dove game: two asymmetric strict pure equilibria and one completely mixed-strategy equilibrium. We classify these generalized Hawk–Dove games into two subclasses, Type 1 and Type 2, based on players’ preferences over deviations toward symmetric profiles. We characterize best-reply correspondences and equilibria under guilt aversion, showing that outcomes are highly sensitive to guilt parameters. In Type 1 games, when guilt sensitivity exceeds a threshold, a new symmetric equilibrium emerges while the mixed-strategy equilibrium disappears. In Type 2 games, guilt aversion affects only the mixed equilibrium, leaving the two asymmetric equilibria unchanged.