Does Self-Control Foster Generosity? Evidence from Ego Depleted Children

Zeynep B. Ugur

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), 2021, vol. 90, issue C

Abstract: If people enjoy giving, then why do they not always give? This study examines whether self-control influences prosocial behavior among 316 young children. For this purpose, we experimentally elicited self-control, altruism, and cognitive skills. In line with previous studies, we find that the majority of children, like adults, tend to give away some of their endowments. Our main finding is that self-control is significantly associated with altruism. Using children's participation time to our game as an instrument, we show that self-control depletion leads to significantly lower altruism among children.

Keywords: Self-control; Donation; Altruism; Ego depletion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D01 D64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:soceco:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s2214804320306959

DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2020.101652

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