Working Too Much for Too Little: Stochastic Rewards Cause Work Addiction

Brice Corgnet, Simon Gaechter () and Roberto Hernan Gonzalez ()
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Simon Gaechter: University of Nottingham
Roberto Hernan Gonzalez: University of Burgundy
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Simon Gächter

No 2020-03, Discussion Papers from The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham

Abstract: People are generally assumed to shy away from activities generating stochastic rewards, thus requiring extra compensation for handling any additional risk. In contrast with this view, neuroscience research with animals has shown that stochastic rewards may act as a powerful motivator. Applying these ideas to the study of work addiction in humans, and using a new experimental paradigm, we demonstrate how stochastic rewards may lead people to continue working on a repetitive and effortful task even after monetary compensation becomes saliently negligible. In line with our hypotheses, we show that persistence on the work task is especially pronounced when the entropy of stochastic rewards is high, which is also when the work task generates more stress to participants. We discuss the economic and managerial implications of our findings.

Keywords: Incentives; Work Addiction; Occupational Health; Experiments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe and nep-hrm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Working Too Much for Too Little: Stochastic Rewards Cause Work Addiction (2020)
Working Paper: Working too much for too little: stochastic rewards cause work addiction (2020)
Working Paper: Working too much for too little: stochastic rewards cause work addiction (2020)
Working Paper: Working Too Much for Too Little: Stochastic Rewards Cause Work Addiction (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:not:notcdx:2020-03

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