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Time pressure and honesty in a deception game

Author

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  • Capraro, Valerio
  • Schulz, Jonathan
  • Rand, David G.

Abstract

Previous experiments have found mixed results on whether honesty is intuitive or requires deliberation. Here we add to this literature by building on prior work of Capraro (2017). We report a large study (N = 1,389) manipulating time pressure vs time delay in a deception game. We find that, in this setting, people are more honest under time pressure, and that this result is not driven by confounds present in earlier work.

Suggested Citation

  • Capraro, Valerio & Schulz, Jonathan & Rand, David G., 2019. "Time pressure and honesty in a deception game," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 93-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:79:y:2019:i:c:p:93-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2019.01.007
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    4. Blazquiz-Pulido, Juan Francisco & Polonio, Luca & Bilancini, Ennio, 2024. "Who's the deceiver? Identifying deceptive intentions in communication," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 451-466.
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    8. Ekström, Mathias, 2021. "The (un)compromise effect: How suggested alternatives can promote active choice," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    9. Christian P Janssen & Emma Everaert & Heleen M A Hendriksen & Ghislaine L Mensing & Laura J Tigchelaar & Hendrik Nunner, 2019. "The influence of rewards on (sub-)optimal interleaving," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-25, March.
    10. Diogo Geraldes & Franziska Heinicke & Duk Gyoo Kim, 2022. "The Effect of Chosen or Given Luck on Honesty," CESifo Working Paper Series 9904, CESifo.
    11. Edward Cartwright & Lian Xue & Charlotte Brown, 2020. "Are People Willing to Tell Pareto White Lies? A Review and New Experimental Evidence," Games, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    12. Jiayu Cheng & Haoran Wang & Yue Liu & Chongxiang Wang & Qingzhou Sun & Bruno Verschuere & Liyang Sai, 2026. "Intuitive or deliberative dishonesty: The effect of abstract versus concrete victim," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, January.
    13. Guilfoos, Todd & Suter, Jordan F., 2025. "Time pressure and motivated delay effects on sanctioning in a social dilemma: Experimental evidence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    14. Diogo Geraldes & Franziska Heinicke & Duk Gyoo Kim, 2024. "Does Honesty Respond to Unrelated Luck?," CESifo Working Paper Series 11602, CESifo.
    15. repec:plo:pone00:0212608 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Dickinson, David L & McEvoy, David M, 2021. "Further from the truth: The impact of moving from in-person to online settings on dishonest behavior," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    17. Kumar Padamwar, Pravesh & Kumar Kalakbandi, Vinay & Dawra, Jagrook, 2023. "Deliberation does not make the attraction effect disappear: The role of induced cognitive reflection," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    18. Beck, Tobias, 2021. "How the honesty oath works: Quick, intuitive truth telling under oath," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
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    20. Bilancini, Ennio & Boncinelli, Leonardo & Celadin, Tatiana, 2024. "Manipulating response times in the cognitive reflection test: Time delay boosts deliberation, time pressure hinders it," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

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