Are social value orientations expressed automatically? Decision making in the dictator game

Cornelissen, Gert; Dewitte, Siegfried; Warlop, Luk

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167211405996

Are social value orientations expressed automatically? Decision making in the dictator game

Citation

Cornelissen G, Dewitte S, Warlop L. Are social value orientations expressed automatically? Decision making in the dictator game. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2011 Aug;37(8):1080-90. DOI: 10.1177/0146167211405996

Abstract

Drawing on the social intuitionist model, the authors studied the hypothesis that social value orientations are expressed automatically in behavior. They compared spontaneous and more deliberated decisions in the dictator game and confirmed that social values determine behavior when responses are based on the automatic system. By means of both mediation and experimental analyses, the authors further demonstrate that the automatic expression of social value orientations is mediated by perceptions of interpersonal closeness. A reasoning process can subsequently override these automatic responses and disconnect decisions from perceptions of interpersonal closeness. This results in lower levels of other-regarding behavior, at least for prosocials.