Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36671 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Jena Economic Research Papers No. 2010,037
Publisher: 
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
Economists have been theorizing that other-regarding preferences influence decision making. Yet, what are the corresponding psychological mechanisms that inform these preferences in laboratory games? Empathy and Theory of Mind (ToM) are dispositions considered to be essential in social interaction. We investigate the connection between an individual's preference type and her disposition to engage in empathy and ToM in neutrally framed Dictator and Ultimatum Game. For that purpose, cognitive and emotional psychometric scales are applied to infer the dispositions of each subject. We find that a disposition for empathy does not influence the behavior in the games. ToM positively correlates with offers in the Dictator Game. Integral to ToM are beliefs about others. Both, other-regarding and selfish types, show a strong correlation between what they belief others do and their own action. These results indicate that expectations about the prevalent social norm might be central in informing behavior in one-shot games.
Subjects: 
Altruism
Inequality, Empathy
Theory of Mind
Behavioral Economics
JEL: 
C91
C72
D01
D03
D64
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
849.82 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.