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Another way in which a group presence can affect performance is social loafing—the exertion of less effort by a person working together with a group. Social loafing occurs when our individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group. Thus, group performance declines on easy tasks (Karau & Williams, 1993). Essentially individual group members loaf and let other group members pick up the slack. Because each individual’s efforts cannot be evaluated, individuals become less...
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The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
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Sunk cost and work ethic effects reflect suboptimal choice between different work requirements.

Paula Magalhães1, K Geoffrey White

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand. pmagalhaes@psy.otago.ac.nz

Behavioural Processes
|January 1, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Pigeons exhibit the sunk cost effect, persisting with a task after an initial investment even when a better option is available. This irrational behavior, similar to humans, is amplified by a general work ethic effect.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Animal Cognition
  • Comparative Psychology

Background:

  • The sunk cost effect describes the tendency to continue an endeavor due to previously invested resources, even if it's irrational.
  • This effect is well-documented in humans but less explored in non-human species.
  • Understanding animal decision-making provides insights into the fundamental nature of economic biases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of the sunk cost effect in pigeons (Columba livia).
  • To examine how prior investment influences choice behavior between different work requirements.
  • To explore the relationship between the sunk cost effect and a general work ethic effect.

Main Methods:

  • Pigeons were presented with two choice options: a fixed work requirement and a variable work requirement.
  • Some trials involved a prior investment (35 pecks) on the variable option before the choice.
  • Choice behavior was analyzed based on the work requirement and the presence of prior investment.

Main Results:

  • Pigeons demonstrated the sunk cost effect, preferring the initially invested option even when it demanded more work.
  • This preference for the invested option persisted even when the alternative offered a better reward-to-effort ratio.
  • A general preference for higher work requirements (work ethic effect) was observed, which was amplified by the sunk cost effect.

Conclusions:

  • Pigeons exhibit sunk cost effects, mirroring human irrational economic decision-making.
  • Prior investment significantly influences choice behavior, reinforcing suboptimal options.
  • A general work ethic effect in pigeons is exacerbated by the sunk cost effect, suggesting a complex interplay of biases.