Climatic Ignition of Motivation

Climatic demands of cold winters and hot summers help explain why, whereas poverty and riches help explain how, inhabitants adapt culturally to their place of residence, their habitat. Motivational goals, behavioral means, and behavioral outcomes differ systematically in the following four types of habitats: threatening (demanding, poor); unthreatening (undemanding, poor); unchallenging (undemanding, rich); and challenging (demanding, rich). Perhaps most notably, there are stepwise increases in freedom, individualism, cooperation and creativity from threatening to unthreatening to unchallenging to challenging habitats. Geographically viewed, north-south differences dwarf east-west differences in climatic demands and wealth resources, and thus in climato-economic habitats. As a consequence, north-south differences also dwarf east-west differences in motives and behaviors. Because of their climato-economic habitats, compared to southerners, northerners manifest higher levels of freedom, individualism, cooperation and creativity in the northern hemisphere, but lower levels of freedom, individualism, cooperation and creativity in the southern hemisphere. This pattern of findings contributes to the burgeoning field of latitudinal psychology—the long-term ambition to map and understand spatial variations of psychological phenomena along the north-south rather than the east-west axis of the Earth

Eyes wide open: Only eyes that pay attention promote prosocial behavior

Research from evolutionary psychology suggests that the mere presence of eye images can promote prosocial behavior. However, the “eye images effect” is a source of considerable debate, and findings across studies have yielded somewhat inconsistent support. We suggest that one critical factor may be whether the eyes really need to be watching to effectively enhance prosocial behavior. In three experiments, we investigated the impact of eye images on prosocial behavior, assessed in a laboratory setting. Participants were randomly assigned to view an image of watching eyes (eyes with direct gaze), an image of nonwatching eyes (i.e., eyes closed for Study 1 and averted eyes for Studies 2 and 3), or an image of flowers (control condition). Upon exposure to the stimuli, participants decided whether or not to help another participant by completing a dull cognitive task. Three independent studies produced somewhat mixed results. However, combined analysis of all three studies, with a total of 612 participants, showed that the watching component of the eyes is important for decision-making in this context. Images of watching eyes led to significantly greater inclination to offer help as compared to images of nonwatching eyes (i.e., eyes closed and averted eyes) or images of flowers. These findings suggest that eyes gazing at an individual, rather than any proxy to social presence (e.g., just the eyes), serve as a reminder of reputation. Taken together, we conclude that it is “eyes that pay attention” that can lift the veil of anonymity and potentially facilitate prosocial behavior

Butterfly eyespots: Their potential influence on aesthetic preferences and conservation attitudes

Research has shown that the mere presence of stimuli that resemble eyes is sufficient to attract attention, elicit aesthetic responses, and can even enhance prosocial behavior. However, it is less clear whether eye-like stimuli could also be used as a tool for nature conservation. Several animal species, including butterflies, develop eye-like markings that are known as eyespots. In the present research, we explored whether the mere display of eyespots on butterfly wings can enhance: (a) liking for a butterfly species, and (b) attitudes and behaviors towards conservation of a butterfly species. Four online experimental studies, involving 613 participants, demonstrated that eyespots significantly increased liking for a butterfly species. Furthermore, eyespots significantly increased positive attitudes towards conservation of a butterfly species (Studies 1, 2 and 4), whereas liking mediated the eyespot effect on conservation attitudes (Study 2). However, we also found some mixed evidence for an association between eyespots and actual conservation behavior (Studies 3 and 4). Overall, these findings suggest that eyespots may increase liking for an animal and sensitize humans to conservation. We discuss possible implications for biodiversity conservation and future research directions

Do Groups Exclude Others More Readily Than Individuals in Coalition Formation?

The present research compared interindividual and intergroup coalition processes. We examined whether groups are more likely to form small coalitions than individuals, and whether this tendency would depend on the social value orientation of the coalition party. Consistent with our hypothesis, results revealed that proselfs formed more small coalitions in intergroup settings than in interindividual settings whereas prosocials formed a similar number of small coalitions in both intergroup and interindividual settings. These and complementary findings add credence to the claim that people who are self-oriented are more likely to exclude others to maximize their own payoff and that such processes are especially pronounced in intergroup settings

What other's disappointment may do to selfish people: Emotion and social value orientation in a negotiation context

The authors examined whether individual differences in social value orientation moderate responses to other’s expressions of disappointment in negotiation. The literature suggested competing hypotheses: First, prosocials are more responsive to other’s disappointment because they have a greater concern for other; second, proselfs are more responsive because they see other’s disappointment as a threat to their own outcomes. Results of a computer-mediated negotiation in which a simulated opponent expressed disappointment, no emotion, or anger supported the second prediction: Proselfs conceded more to a disappointed opponent than to a neutral or angry one, whereas prosocials were unaffected by the other’s emotion. This effect was mediated by participants’ motivation to satisfy the other’s needs, which disappointment triggered more strongly in proselfs than in prosocials. Implications for theorizing on emotion, social value orientation, and negotiation are discussed

How to overcome the detrimental effects of noise in social interaction: the benefits of generosity

Interpersonal misunderstanding is often rooted in noise, or discrepancies between intended and actual outcomes for an interaction partner due to unintended errors (e.g., not being able to respond to an E-mail because of a local network breakdown). How can one effectively cope with noise in social dilemmas, situations in which self-interest and collective interests are conflicting? Consistent with hypotheses, the present research revealed that incidents of noise exert a detrimental effect on level of cooperation when a partner follows strict reciprocity (i.e., tit for tat) but that this effect can be overcome if a partner behaves somewhat more cooperatively than the actor did in the previous interaction (i.e., tit for tat plus 1). Also, when noise was present, tit for tat plus 1 elicited greater levels of cooperation than did tit for tat, thereby underscoring the benefits of adding generosity to reciprocity in coping with noise in social dilemmas. The Discussion outlines implications of the present work for theories focusing on self-presentation and attribution, communication, and trust and prorelationship behavior

When prosocials act like proselfs in a commons dilemma

important that previous research has also shown that the motivation to preserve a common pool is not equally strong for everybody. Although people who seek to maximize collective outcomes (i.e., prosocials) carefully adapt their behavior to an imminent resource shortage by cutting down their consumption, people who seek to maximize own outcomes or differences in outcomes (i.e., proselfs) keep up their high consumption as if resources were still abundant (see Kramer, McClintock, & Messick, 1986). The Kramer et al. (1986) findings illuminate that motivations are relevant to solving the social dilemma at its most important moment—when the common pool is close to being depleted. That is, differences between prosocial and proself motives seem most important when the dilemma is most pronounced and the collec-tive consequences most severe. At the same time, exper-iments examining the effects of personality differences on individual resource consumption have always been conducted in a “perfect world. ” Participants were usu-ally able to realize their intended consumption without any limitations; that is, they could fully translate thei

Social mindfulness predicts concern for nature and immigrants across 36 nations

Australian Research Council (ARC) [DP200101446]; Philip Leverhulme Prize; Fund for Research on Health - Quebec (FRQS) [268393]; Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies [ANID/FONDAP 15130009]; Fondecyt Program (ANID/Fondecyt) [1201788]; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [PID2021-124617OB-I00]; ERC [101018172]; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation fellowship [2021M690681]; JSPS KAKENHI [19KK0063]; Latvian Council of Science [lzp-2018/1-0402]; Polish National Science Center Grant Sonata Bis [UMO-2017/26/E/HS6/00129]; Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research [ANID/FONDAP 15110006]; Australian Research Council [DP200101446] Funding Source: Australian Research Council; European Research Council (ERC) [101018172] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)Brock Bastian was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) (grant number DP200101446), Steve Loughnan was supported by the Philip Leverhulme Prize, Catherine Amiot was supported by a Senior Fellowship from the Fund for Research on Health - Quebec (FRQS: no. 268393), Roberto Gonzalez was supported by the Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (ANID/FONDAP 15130009), the Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research (ANID/FONDAP 15110006) and the Fondecyt Program (ANID/Fondecyt 1201788), angel Gomez was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2021-124617OB-I00) and by the ERC Grant agreement no: 101018172, Zhechen Wang was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation fellowship (2021M690681), Nobuhiko Goto was supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (grant number 19KK0063), Girts Dimdins was supported by the Latvian Council of Science (grant number lzp-2018/1-0402), and Michal Bilewicz was supported by the Polish National Science Center Grant Sonata Bis (grant number UMO-2017/26/E/HS6/00129).People cooperate every day in ways that range from largescale contributions that mitigate climate change to simple actions such as leaving another individual with choice - known as social mindfulness. It is not yet clear whether and how these complex and more simple forms of cooperation relate. Prior work has found that countries with individuals who made more socially mindful choices were linked to a higher country environmental performance - a proxy for complex cooperation. Here we replicated this initial finding in 41 samples around the world, demonstrating the robustness of the association between social mindfulness and environmental performance, and substantially built on it to show this relationship extended to a wide range of complex cooperative indices, tied closely to many current societal issues. We found that greater social mindfulness expressed by an individual was related to living in countries with more social capital, more community participation and reduced prejudice towards immigrants. Our findings speak to the symbiotic relationship between simple and more complex forms of cooperation in societies.WOS:0009340726000222-s2.0-8514510068336543793Science Citation Index ExpandedarticleUluslararası işbirliği ile yapılan - EVETMart2022YÖK - 2022-2

Gossip in the Dictator and Ultimatum Games: Its Immediate and Downstream Consequences for Cooperation

In this research, we examine how cooperation emerges and develops in sequential dyadic interactions when the initial interaction varies in strategic considerations (i.e., fear of partner rejection) or potential gossip by one’s partner that may affect subsequent interactions. In a lab experiment involving real-time interactions (N = 240) across 39 sessions, participants acted in different roles (i.e., Person A, B, and C) in two different games—Person A was first assigned to allocate an amount of resource to Person B in a dictator game or an ultimatum game. Afterward, Person C interacted with Person A (i.e., trustee) as a trustor in a trust game. Prior to their decisions, participants (a) learned that Person B could gossip by sending evaluations about Person A’s behavior to Person C prior to the trust game or (b) did not receive this information. Findings replicate previous research showing that potential gossip by one’s partner greatly increases cooperation that is revealed in the resources allocated to the partner. Yet, compared to the dictator game, the presence of strategic considerations in the ultimatum game does not significantly enhance cooperation, and even makes people less likely to reciprocate others’ behavior in the subsequent interaction. Interestingly, when there is no gossip, those who have played the ultimatum game, compared to the dictator game, are more trusted by others but do not vary in reciprocity in the subsequent interaction. However, when there is gossip, those who have played the dictator game, compared to the ultimatum game, are more trusted and also more likely to reciprocate others’ behavior in the subsequent interaction. These findings imply that gossip invariably promotes cooperation across strategic and non-strategic situations, but the potential rejection by one’s partner weakly promotes cooperation, and even undermines future cooperation especially when paired with reputation sharing opportunities. We discuss the implications of these findings for implementing reputation systems that can promote and maintain cooperation cost-effectively