title: Effects of age-related differences in empathy on social economic decision-making.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ways in which aging affects social economic decision-making is a central issue in the psychology of aging. To examine age-related differences in social economic decision-making as a function of empathy, 80 healthy volunteers participated in the Repeated Fixed Opponent Ultimatum Game (UG-R). Previous economic decision-making research has shown that in younger adults empathy is associated with prosocial behavior. The effects of empathy on older adult social economic decision-making are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  On each of 20 consecutive trials in the UG-R, one player ("Proposer") splits $10 with another player ("Responder") who chooses either to accept (whereby both receive the proposed division) or reject (whereby neither receives anything). Trait cognitive and emotional empathy were measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UG-R data were examined as a function of age and cognitive empathy. For "unfair" offers (i.e. offers less than $5), older Responders with high cognitive empathy showed less prosocial behavior and obtained greater payoffs than younger Responders with high cognitive empathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of cognitive empathy may differentially affect economic decision-making behavior in younger and older adults. For older adults, high cognitive empathy may play a role in obtaining high financial payoffs while for younger adults it may instead be involved in facilitating social relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. janelle-beadle@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Janelle N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Beadle
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paradiso
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kovach
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polgreen
authors.forename: Natalie L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Denburg
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tranel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D004467:Economics; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult