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Punishing the individual or the group for norm violation
Marwa El Zein1,2, Chloe Seikus3, Lee De-Wit3,4
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.
Wellcome Open Research
|March 24, 2020
Summary
Group participation may reduce accountability for negative behaviors. Individuals made lower offers and punished less frequently in groups, suggesting shared responsibility lowers social consequences for norm violations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Group Dynamics
Background:
- Recent theories suggest group formation is motivated by protection from negative behavioral consequences.
- This study empirically investigates group behavior in relation to fairness and norm violations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if cooperative decisions and punishment of norm violations differ between individuals and groups.
- To explore the role of shared responsibility in group decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the ultimatum game for social punishment (offer rejection).
- Employed the dictator game with third-party punishment, involving observation or direct punishment.
- Measured offer amounts and punishment decision times.
Main Results:
- Individuals made lower offers in groups compared to alone, especially less generous individuals.
- Punishment decision times increased when facing groups, particularly in direct (second-party) punishment scenarios.
- Groups exhibited different cooperative decisions and punishment of norm violations compared to individuals.
Conclusions:
- Group structures influence both prosocial behavior and norm enforcement.
- Shared responsibility within groups may mitigate negative consequences for norm violations.
- Behavioral differences in groups highlight the impact of collective decision-making on accountability.
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