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Close your eyes and be nice: Deliberate ignorance behind pro-social choices

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  • Kandul, Serhiy
  • Ritov, Ilana

Abstract

Avoidance of certain pieces of information, i.e. ignoring the consequences of one’s choices for the well-being of others, has been shown to enhance selfishness. We argue that preferences for uncertainty or deliberate ignorance can also be employed by those seeking to behave pro-socially. We use a dictator game with hidden pay-offs for the dictators and allow participants to reveal their own pay-offs without a cost before making their allocation choice. We observe that a non-trivial fraction of participants do not reveal their pay-offs and choose the allocation that benefits others.

Suggested Citation

  • Kandul, Serhiy & Ritov, Ilana, 2017. "Close your eyes and be nice: Deliberate ignorance behind pro-social choices," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 54-56.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:153:y:2017:i:c:p:54-56
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2017.02.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Moradi, Homayoon, 2018. "Selfless ignorance: Too good to be true," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Market Behavior SP II 2018-208, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    2. Chapkovski, Philipp, 2022. "Information avoidance in a polarized society," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Moyal, Adiel & Schurr, Amos, 2022. "The effect of deliberate ignorance and choice procedure on pro-environmental decisions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    4. Momsen, Katharina & Ohndorf, Markus, 2023. "Information avoidance: Self-image concerns, inattention, and ideology," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 386-400.
    5. Daniele Pennesi, 2020. "Identity and information acquisition," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 610, Collegio Carlo Alberto, revised 2021.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Moral wiggle room; Self-image; Deliberate ignorance; Pro-social behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles

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