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An operant analysis of human altruistic responding
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|May 1, 1977
Summary
This study compared altruistic (give) and self-interested (earn) responding. Give responding occurred less often and was more sensitive to changes in reinforcement, suggesting altruism is less robust than self-interest.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Background:
- Human behavior involves both self-interested and altruistic actions.
- Understanding the conditions that influence altruistic behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare human altruistic responding (give responding) with self-interested responding (earn responding).
- To investigate the factors affecting the rate and persistence of altruistic behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a button-pressing response under a 40-response fixed-ratio schedule.
- Compared responding where the reinforcer benefited another (give) versus the self (earn).
- Assessed responding for points not convertible to monetary value and examined concurrent incompatible operants.
Main Results:
- Point responding (non-monetary) occurred at the lowest rates.
- Give responding occurred at lower rates than earn responding.
- Give responding was more susceptible to cessation, extinguished faster without monetary value, and showed less reconditioning compared to earn responding.
- Altruistic responding decreased when it interfered with self-reinforcement opportunities.
Conclusions:
- Altruistic responding is less robust and more sensitive to reinforcement conditions than self-interested responding.
- Past experiences with reinforcement influence the likelihood of engaging in altruistic behavior.
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