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Prosocial Behavior Increases with Age across Five Economic Games.

Yoshie Matsumoto¹, Toshio Yamagishi^1,2, Yang Li¹

¹Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Japan.

|July 15, 2016

Summary

Human prosocial behavior and preferences increase with age beyond early adulthood. Declining belief in manipulation and increased satisfaction with cooperation mediate this age-related prosociality increase.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Behavioral Economics
Sociology

Background:

Existing research indicates human prosociality grows through early adulthood.
It remains unclear if prosociality continues to increase in later adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related changes in prosocial behavior and preferences in adults.
To identify factors mediating the relationship between age and prosociality.

Main Methods:

A study involving 408 non-student adults (aged 20-59) in Tokyo, Japan.
Participants engaged in five distinct economic games over several months.
Measurement of social value orientation, belief in manipulation, and satisfaction with game outcomes.

Main Results:

Prosocial behavior significantly increased with age across all five economic games.
A weaker age-related trend was observed in prosocial preferences.
Belief in manipulation decreased with age, while satisfaction with cooperative outcomes increased.

Conclusions:

Prosociality continues to develop beyond early adulthood.
Age-related increases in prosociality are mediated by decreased belief in manipulation and increased satisfaction with cooperation.
Socio-demographic factors like marriage and homeownership showed weak mediation effects.