Counterfactual comparison modulates fairness consideration in the mini‐ultimatum game: An event‐related potentials study |
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Authors: | Jiafeng Liang Huiyan Lin Jing Xiang Hao Wu Xu Li Hongyu Liang Xue Zheng |
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Institution: | 1. Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;2. Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany |
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Abstract: | Existing literature on the mini‐ultimatum game indicates that counterfactual comparison between chosen and unchosen alternatives is of great importance for individual's fairness consideration. However, it is still unclear how counterfactual comparison influences the electrophysiological responses to unfair chosen offers. In conjunction with event‐related potentials’ (ERPs) technique, the current study aimed to explore the issue by employing a modified version of the mini‐ultimatum game where a fixed set of two alternatives (unfair offer vs. fair alternative, unfair vs. hyperfair alternative, unfair offer vs. hyperunfair alternative) was presented before the chosen offer. The behavioral results showed that participants were more likely to accept unfair chosen offers when the unchosen alternative was hyperunfair than when the unchosen alternative was fair or hyperfair. The ERPs results showed that the feedback‐related negativity (FRN) elicited by unfair chosen offers was insensitive to the type of unchosen alternative when correcting for possible overlap with other components. In contrast, unfair chosen offers elicited larger P300 amplitudes when the unchosen alternative was hyperunfair than when the unchosen alternative was fair or hyperfair. These findings suggest that counterfactual comparison may take effect at later stages of fairness consideration as reflected by the P300. |
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Keywords: | Fairness consideration counterfactual comparison mini‐ultimatum game
FRN
P300 |
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