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Differences in Cognitive Reflection Mediate Gender Differences in Social Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio M. Espin

    (Department of Social Anthropology, University of Granada and Loyola Behavioral Lab, Loyola Andalucía University)

  • Valerio Capraro

    (Department of Economics, Middlesex University Business School)

  • Brice Corgnet

    (Emlyon Business School)

  • Simon Gachter

    (University of Nottingham and IZA and CESifo)

  • Roberto Hernan-Gonzalez

    (Burgundy School of Business, Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comte)

  • Praveen Kujal

    (Department of Economics, Middlesex University)

  • Stephen Rassenti

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University)

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that women tend to be more egalitarian and less self-interested than men whereas men tend to be more concerned with social efficiency motives. The roots of such differences, however, remain unknown. Since different cognitive styles have also been associated with different distributional social preferences, we hypothesise that gender differences in social preferences can be partially explained by differences in cognitive styles (i.e., women rely more on intuition whereas men are more reflective). We test this hypothesis meta-analytically using data from seven studies conducted in four countries (USA, Spain, India, and UK; n=6,910) where cognitive reflection and social preferences were measured for men and women. In line with our hypothesis, differences in cognitive reflection scores explain up to 41% of the gender differences in social preferences. The mediation is barely affected by variables such as cognitive ability or study-level characteristics. These results suggest that the socio-ecological or cultural pressures that influence gender differences in cognitive styles are also partially responsible for gender differences in social preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio M. Espin & Valerio Capraro & Brice Corgnet & Simon Gachter & Roberto Hernan-Gonzalez & Praveen Kujal & Stephen Rassenti, 2021. "Differences in Cognitive Reflection Mediate Gender Differences in Social Preferences," Working Papers 21-22, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
  • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:21-22
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    File URL: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/359/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Kurschilgen, 2023. "Moral awareness polarizes people’s fairness judgments," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 61(2), pages 339-364, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender differences; cognitive reflection; social preferences; self-interest; social efficiency; egalitarianism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B55 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Social Economics
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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