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The dynamics of behavior in modified dictator games

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  • Jeannette Brosig-Koch
  • Thomas Riechmann
  • Joachim Weimann

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of individual pro-social behavior over time. The dynamics are tested by running the same experiment with the same subjects at several points in time. To exclude learning and reputation building, we employ non-strategic decision tasks and a sequential prisoners-dilemma as a control treatment. In the first wave, pro-social concerns explain a high share of individual decisions. Pro-social decisions decrease over time, however. In the final wave, most decisions can be accounted for by assuming pure selfishness. Stable behavior in the sense that subjects stick to their decisions over time is observed predominantly for purely selfish subjects. We offer two explanation for our results: diminishing experimenter demand effects and moral self-licensing.

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  • Jeannette Brosig-Koch & Thomas Riechmann & Joachim Weimann, 2017. "The dynamics of behavior in modified dictator games," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0176199
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176199
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    2. Arechar, Antonio A. & Rand, David G., 2022. "Learning to be selfish? A large-scale longitudinal analysis of Dictator games played on Amazon Mechanical Turk," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Nguyen, Cuong Viet & Vu, Linh Hoang, 2022. "Ownership effects in dictator games: Evidence from an experimental study," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Mostafa Shahen & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2020. "Does perspective-taking promote intergenerational sustainability?," Working Papers SDES-2020-12, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Sep 2020.
    5. Müller, Stephan & Rau, Holger A., 2020. "Motivational crowding out effects in charitable giving: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Mekvabishvili, Rati & Mekvabishvili, Elguja & Natsvaladze, Marine & Sirbiladze, Rusudan & Mzhavanadze, Giorgi & Deisadze, Salome, 2023. "Prosocial Behavior and the Individual Normative Standard of Fairness within a Dynamic Context: Experimental Evidence," MPRA Paper 116774, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 Mar 2023.
    7. Jeannette Brosig‐Koch & Burkhard Hehenkamp & Johanna Kokot, 2023. "Who benefits from quality competition in health care? A theory and a laboratory experiment on the relevance of patient characteristics," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(8), pages 1785-1817, August.
    8. Pikulina, Elena S. & Tergiman, Chloe, 2020. "Preferences for power," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    9. Mostafa Shahen & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2020. "How do individuals behave in the intergenerational sustainability dilemma? A strategy method experiment," Working Papers SDES-2020-1, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised May 2020.
    10. Luciano Andreozzi & Marco Faillo & Ali Seyhun Saral, 2021. "Reciprocity in Dictator Games: An Experimental Study," CEEL Working Papers 2101, Cognitive and Experimental Economics Laboratory, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia.

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