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Loss context enhances preferences for generosity but reduces preferences for honesty: Evidence from a combined behavioural-computational approach |
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| Authors: | Yijie Zhang Yuzhu Zhai Xingmei Zhou Zhixin Zhang Ruolei Gu Yue-jia Luo Chunliang Feng |
| Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China;2. Center of Brain Disorder and Cognitive Sciences, College of Psychology and Sociology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Center for Emotion and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China;3. Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;4. The State Key Lab of Cognitive and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China;5. Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China |
| Abstract: | The current literature has revealed mixed evidence on whether loss (vs. gain) context promotes or curtails human prosociality. The current study (N=96) aimed to address this issue by examining whether gain/loss context has distinct effects on different prosocial preferences combining computational modelling with Dictator Game and Message Game. These interactive games allow for dissociating preferences for generosity and honesty, which have been respectively associated with intuitive and deliberative systems. Our behavioural and computational modelling results indicate that loss context enhances concerns for generosity but reduces concerns for honesty. These findings support an account under the framework of dual process model asserting that loss facilitates intuitive responses during social decision-making, regardless of whether they are prosocial or proself. The current findings reconcile previous debates on the relationship between loss-gain context and human prosociality and shed light on the design of institutions to promote human prosocial behaviours. |
| Keywords: | computational modelling decision-making generosity honesty loss context prosociality |