Can intentions spoil the kindness of a gift? - An experimental study

Christina Strassmair

Discussion Papers in Economics from University of Munich, Department of Economics

Abstract: Consider a situation where person A undertakes a costly action that benefits person B. This behavior seems altruistic. However, if A expects a reward in return from B, then A's action may be motivated by the expected rewards rather than by pure altruism. The question we address in this experimental study is how B reacts to the intentions of A. We vary the probability, with which the second mover in a trust game can reciprocate, and analyze effects on second mover behavior. Our results suggest that the perceived kindness and its rewards are not spoiled by expected rewards.

Keywords: social preferences; intentions; beliefs; psychological game theory; experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D02 D64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-03-20
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp, nep-hpe, nep-soc and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lmu:muenec:10351

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