More Than Outcomes: The Role of Self-Image in Other-Regarding Behavior

Astrid Matthey and Tobias Regner

Review of Behavioral Economics, 2015, vol. 2, issue 4, 353-378

Abstract: We conduct a modified dictator game in order to analyze the role self-image concerns play in other-regarding behavior. While we generally follow Konow (2000), a cognitive dissonance-based model of other-regarding behavior in dictator games, we relax one of its assumptions as we allow for individual heterogeneity among individuals’ standards of behavior. Subjects’ self-image, their belief regarding the average socially appropriate behavior of others and our proxies for the cognitive dissonance costs are positively correlated with the dictator game choices.We also find that subjects whose choices involve two psychologically inconsistent cognitions indeed report higher levels of experienced conflict and take more time for their decisions (our proxies for cognitive dissonance).

Keywords: Social preference; Other-regarding behavior; Self-image; Cognitive dissonance; Social norms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 D03 D80 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: More than outcomes: The role of self-image in other-regarding behavior (2014)
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