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Facts and Misconceptions about 2D:4D, Social and Risk Preferences.
Judit Alonso1, Roberto Di Paolo1, Giovanni Ponti1,2,3
1Departamento de Fundamentos de Análisis Económico, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig/Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|March 1, 2018
Summary
The ratio of second to fourth digit length (2D:4D) shows limited correlation with economic choices. Lower social preferences were observed only in low-cognitive-ability subjects with high 2D:4D ratios.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Biological Markers
- Human Decision-Making
Background:
- The second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a proposed biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure.
- Previous research has explored links between 2D:4D and various economic behaviors, with mixed findings.
- Understanding these correlations can offer insights into the biological underpinnings of economic decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and choices in social and risk preference tasks.
- To build a robust dataset from multiple experimental projects to enhance statistical power.
- To critically evaluate the predictive power of 2D:4D in economic domains.
Main Methods:
- Collected data from five experimental projects involving over 800 subjects.
- Measured the 2D:4D ratio for each participant.
- Utilized established elicitation tasks to assess social and risk preferences.
- Analyzed correlations between 2D:4D ratios and elicited preferences, controlling for cognitive ability.
Main Results:
- The study largely confirms existing literature suggesting weak links between 2D:4D and general economic preferences.
- A significant finding emerged for social preferences: lower preferences were observed only in subjects with a high 2D:4D ratio AND low cognitive ability.
- No significant correlation was found between a high 2D:4D ratio and the propensity for making risky choices.
Conclusions:
- The 2D:4D ratio has limited utility as a general predictor of social and risk preferences in economic tasks.
- A potential interaction effect exists between 2D:4D and cognitive ability influencing social preferences.
- Further research is needed to explore nuanced relationships and potential moderating factors.
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