Reconciling pro-social vs. selfish behavior: On the role of self-control

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reconciling pro-social vs. selfish behavior

T2 - On the role of self-control

AU - Martinsson, Peter

AU - Myrseth, Kristian Ove R.

AU - Wollbrant, Conny

PY - 2012/1/1

Y1 - 2012/1/1

N2 - We test in the context of a dictator game the proposition that individuals may experience a self-control conflict between the temptation to act selfishly and the better judgment to act pro-socially. We manipulated the likelihood that individuals would identify self-control conflict, and we measured their trait ability to implement self-control strategies. Our analysis reveals a positive and significant correlation between trait self-control and pro-social behavior in the treatment where we expected a relatively high likelihood of conflict identification-but not in the treatment where we expected a low likelihood. The magnitude of the effect is of economic significance. We conclude that subtle cues might prove sufficient to alter individuals' perception of allocation opportunities, thereby prompting individuals to draw on their own cognitive resources to act pro-socially.

AB - We test in the context of a dictator game the proposition that individuals may experience a self-control conflict between the temptation to act selfishly and the better judgment to act pro-socially. We manipulated the likelihood that individuals would identify self-control conflict, and we measured their trait ability to implement self-control strategies. Our analysis reveals a positive and significant correlation between trait self-control and pro-social behavior in the treatment where we expected a relatively high likelihood of conflict identification-but not in the treatment where we expected a low likelihood. The magnitude of the effect is of economic significance. We conclude that subtle cues might prove sufficient to alter individuals' perception of allocation opportunities, thereby prompting individuals to draw on their own cognitive resources to act pro-socially.

KW - Altruism

KW - Dictator game

KW - Pro-social behavior

KW - Self-control

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862247870&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84862247870

SN - 1930-2975

VL - 7

SP - 304

EP - 315

JO - Judgment and Decision Making

JF - Judgment and Decision Making

IS - 3

ER -