Prosocials prefer equal outcomes to maximizing joint outcomes.
Existing theories of social value orientations posit that prosocials maximize joint outcomes whereas proselfs maximize outcomes to themselves. Three studies employing a total of 157 undergraduates were conducted to test the alternative hypothesis that prosocials prefer equal outcomes to maximizing joint outcome. In study 1 participants completed the Triple-Dominance Measure of Social Values in which a fourth alternative that distributed the largest joint outcome unequally was added to the alternative that distributed the outcomes equally. In accordance with the hypothesis, prosocials preferred the equal-outcome alternative to the joint-outcome alternative. Study 2 confirmed and extended these results by demonstrating that prosocials preferred equal outcomes to larger joint outcomes that were unequally distributed but provided both with larger outcomes. Study 3 demonstrated that in a modified prisoner's dilemma game, a preference for equal outcomes to a larger joint outcome resulted in that prosocials cooperated when they believed or knew that the other cooperated, and defected when they believed or knew that the other defected.
Eek
Daniel
D
Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, Sweden. daniel.eek@psy.gu.se
Gärling
Tommy
T
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires