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The anticipatory effect of nonverbal communication

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  • Brook, Rebecca
  • Servátka, Maroš

Abstract

Is nonverbal communication capable of affecting economic outcomes? We study the effect of anticipated approval and disapproval, expressed through emoticons, on generosity and show that it discourages selfish behavior. In our experiment subjects play a one-shot dictator game at the end of which the recipient can respond to the allocation by drawing an emoticon and sending it back to the dictator. While the observed effect of nonverbal communication is somewhat weaker than the anticipation of a verbal response, our results provide evidence that people are willing to trade-off pecuniary gains to avoid disapproval or seek approval of their peers and that the sheer anticipation of receiving a response, even nonverbal, is sufficient to change their behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Brook, Rebecca & Servátka, Maroš, 2016. "The anticipatory effect of nonverbal communication," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 45-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:144:y:2016:i:c:p:45-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2016.04.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mario Capizzani & Luigi Mittone & Andrew Musau & Antonino Vaccaro, 2017. "Anticipated Communication in the Ultimatum Game," Games, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Miklánek, Tomáš, 2018. "Information Asymmetry and Exposure Effects in Dictator Games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 29-39.
    3. Alina DINU & Raluca MAREI & Ioana Maria PAVEL, 2017. "Empirical Study Regarding The Influence Of Communication On Sales Performance," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(1), pages 182-187, November.
    4. Giuseppe Danese & Luigi Mittone, 2018. "The Circulation of Worthless Tokens Aids Cooperation: An Experiment Inspired by the Kula," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Approval; Disapproval; Nonverbal communication; Emotion; Fairness; Generosity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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