title: Self-interest without selfishness: the hedonic benefit of imposed self-interest.
abstract: Despite commonsense appeal, the link between self-interest and happiness remains elusive. One reason why individuals may not feel satisfied with self-interest is that they feel uneasy about sacrificing the needs of others for their own gain. We propose that externally imposing self-interest allows individuals to enjoy self-benefiting outcomes that are untainted by self-reproach for failing to help others. Study 1 demonstrated that an imposed self-interested option (a reward) leads to greater happiness than does choosing between a self-interested option and a prosocial option (a charity donation). Study 2 demonstrated that this effect is not driven by choice in general; rather, it is the specific trade-off between benefiting the self and benefiting others that inhibits happiness gained from self-interest. We theorize that the agency inherent in choice reduces the hedonic value of self-interest. Results of Study 3 find support for this mechanism.
authors.affiliation: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. jberm@wharton.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D002608:Charities; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010684:Philosophy; D012201:Reward; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult