Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 1999-03-09
Number: 99-018/1
Author-Name: Theo Offerman
Author-Email: theoo@fee.uva.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: University of Amsterdam
Title: Hurting hurts more than Helping helps: The Role of the Self-serving Bias
Abstract: This paper investigates an implication of the self-serving bias for reciprocalresponses. It is hypothesized that negative intentionality matters more thanpositive intentionality for reciprocating individuals with a self-servingattributional style. Experimental evidence obtained in the hot response gamesupports this prediction. Subjects are 67% more likely to reciprocate anintentional hurtful choice over an unintentional hurtful choice. Subjects areonly 25% more likely to reciprocate an intentional helpful choice over anunintentional helpful choice. The evidence on the intermediating role ofemotions is consistent with the explanation offered by the self-serving bias.
Classification-JEL: C70; C92
Keywords: reciprocity; intentionality; self-serving bias; experiment
File-Url: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/99018.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 67795 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:19990018