People expect others to be as selfish or generous as they are: A new study on mirroring

New research reveals that a person's behavior strongly influences their interactions in brief competitive situations. 

Generous individuals tend to respond to generosity, while selfish ones favor selfishness—even if it comes at a personal cost. 

It's surprising how many people expect others to behave similarly to them!

The research of a complex human nature

The study, led by Paul Bogdan at the University of Illinois, challenges the notion that social norms are the primary drivers of competitive decision-making.

Using the Ultimatum Game to simulate money-splitting scenarios, the study found that generous individuals accept generous offers, and selfish ones accept selfish offers. 

This behavior extends to trusting others who exhibit similar actions. 

More insights

Surprisingly, participants' own behavior plays a bigger role in shaping their views of others than prevailing attitudes.

Additionally, the study discovered that individuals who transition from generous to selfish behavior over time tend to reward selfishness and penalize generosity, but only after their own behavior changes. 

These findings highlight the significant impact of personal behavior on social interactions and judgments, extending beyond decision-making contexts.
 

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• research
• expectations
• personality
• 13 August 2023

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