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Self-serving reward and punishment: evidence from the laboratory
Jianing Chen1, Zeng Lian2, Jie Zheng3
1International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, 100089, China.
Scientific Reports
|August 26, 2023
Summary
Third parties adjust altruism and punishment based on personal interests, not just social norms. Their willingness to reward or punish is influenced by whether their own interests align or conflict with the observed behavior.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Societal maintenance relies on rewarding altruism and punishing selfishness.
- Previous research confirms willingness to incur costs for third-party punishment and reward.
- Limited exploration exists on how relationships influence third-party reward and punishment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how third-party reward and punishment are affected by their relationship with the observed individual.
- To analyze the impact of aligned versus conflicting interests on third-party judgments.
- To understand deviations from socially 'legitimate' reward and punishment levels.
Main Methods:
- A three-stage experiment combining a revised dictator game with third-party reward/punishment.
- Implementation of two payoff frameworks: alignment and conflict.
- Analysis of third-party reward and punishment variations under different interest frameworks.
Main Results:
- Third-party reward and punishment levels deviated from societal norms due to self-interest.
- Less severe punishment for anti-social behavior under alignment vs. conflict frameworks.
- Self-serving rewards for pro-social behavior under alignment, but altruistic rewards under conflict.
Conclusions:
- Third-party reward and punishment decisions are significantly influenced by personal interests.
- Evidence supports the existence of self-serving reward and punishment behaviors in third parties.
- Individual interests can override or shape adherence to social norms in reward/punishment contexts.
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