Actions and the self: I give, therefore I am?

Tobias Regner and Astrid Matthey
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Astrid Matthey: Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena

No 2017-018, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: Self-signaling models predict less selfish behavior in a probabilistic giving setting as individuals are expected to invest in a pro-social identity. However, there is also substantial evidence that people tend to exploit situational excuses for selfish choices (for instance, uncertainty) and behave more selfishly. We contrast these two motivations experimentally in order to test which one is more prevalent in a reciprocal giving setting. Trustees' back transfer choices are elicited for five different transfer levels of the trustor. Moreover, we ask trustees to provide their back transfer schedule for different scenarios that vary the implementation probability of the back transfer. This design allows us to identify subjects who reciprocate and analyze how these reciprocators respond when self-image relevant factors are varied. Our results indicate that self-deception is prevalent when subjects make the back transfer choice. Twice as many subjects seem to exploit situational excuses than subjects who appear to invest in a pro-social identity.

Keywords: social preferences; pro-social behavior; experiments; reciprocity; moral wiggle room; self-image concerns; self-signaling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 D80 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-12-31
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-hpe and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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