Self-Image and Moral Balancing - An Experimental Analysis

Matteo Ploner and Tobias Regner

No 2013-002, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: In our experiment, a dictator game variant, the reported outcome of a die roll determines the endowment (low/high) in a subsequent dictator game. In one treatment the experimenter is present and no cheating is possible, while in another subjects can enter the result of the roll themselves. Moral self-image is also manipulated in the experiment preceding ours. The aim of this experimental set up is to analyze dynamic aspects of moral behavior. When cheating is possible, substantially more high endowments are claimed and transfers of high-endowed dictators are bigger than when cheating is not possible (mediated by the preceding moral self-image manipulation). The preceding manipulations also have a direct effect on generosity, when subjects have to report the roll of the die truthfully. Moral balancing appears to be an important factor in individual decision making.

Keywords: honesty; moral balancing; self-image; dictator game; experiments; ethical behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D03 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-01-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-evo, nep-exp and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (88)

Published as "Self-image and moral balancing: An experimental analysis", in: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 93/C (2013), 374-383.

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Journal Article: Self-image and moral balancing: An experimental analysis (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2013-002

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