Older Adults Show Diminished Sensitivity to Potential Losses in Social Bargaining

Yi Huang, Jingwen Chai, Lei Feng, Rongjun Yu and Derek Isaacowitz

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2020, vol. 75, issue 8, 1699-1704

Abstract: ObjectivesLeaders in many organizations are older adults who routinely make decisions in social bargaining situations. However, we know little about the age-related differences in strategic decision making.MethodsIn the current study (n = 182), using a modified Prisoner’s Dilemma game (PDG), we examined two important intrinsic motivations for non-cooperation: fear of betrayal and greedy desire to exploit other people among young and older Chinese Singaporeans.ResultsResults showed that compared with young adults, older adults demonstrated an intact greed motive but a diminished fear motive in the PDG.DiscussionOur findings suggest a diminished sensitivity to social threat or potential losses due to betrayal in older adults’ social decision making. Older adults may have a declined ability to assess social threats even though they retain the motivation to gain an exploitive advantage.

Keywords: aging; cooperation; fear; greed (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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