Social value orientation as a moral intuition: Decision making in the dictator game.

We studied the hypothesis that social value orientations are expressed automatically in behavior, as would be suggested by the social intuitionist model. We observed automatic and deliberated decisions in the dictator game and confirmed that social values determine behavior when responses are based on the intuitive system. By means of both mediation and experimental analyses we further demonstrate that the automatic expression of social value orientations is mediated by perceptions of interpersonal closeness. Conscious deliberation can subsequently override these automatic responses and disconnects dictator game decisions from perceptions of interpersonal closeness. This results in lower levels of other-regarding behavior, at least for prosocials.dictator game; social dilemma; dual processes; social value orientation; interpersonal closeness;

Social value orientation as a moral intuition: Decision-making in the dictator game

We studied the decision making process in the Dictator Game and showed that decisions are the result of a two-step process. In a first step, decision makers generate an automatic, intuitive proposal. Given sufficient motivation and cognitive resources, they adjust this in a second, more deliberated phase. In line with the social intuitionist model, we show that one’s Social Value Orientation determines intuitive choice tendencies in the first step, and that this effect is mediated by the dictator’s perceived interpersonal closeness with the receiver. Self-interested concerns subsequently lead to a reduction of donation size in step 2. Finally, we show that increasing interpersonal closeness can promote pro-social decision-making.Dictator game; social dilemma; decision-making; two stage model; social value orientation, interpersonal closeness

Loudness perceptions influence feelings of interpersonal closeness and protect against detrimental psychological effects of social exclusion

We propose that perceptions of auditory loudness and interpersonal closeness are bidirectionally related. Across 12 experiments (total N = 2219; 10 preregistered; with Singaporean, British, U.S. American, Indian, and Australian participants), we demonstrated that louder audio made people feel physically (Study 1a) and socially (Study 1b) closer to others, presumably because of loudness activates interpersonal closeness-related concepts implicitly (Studies 1c, 1d). This loudness-interpersonal closeness effect was observed across diverse samples (Studies 2a, 3a, S1), for longer listening intervals (Study 2b), and in natural settings (Studies 3a, 3b). Conversely, individuals made to feel socially excluded rated their surroundings as quieter (Study 4). Furthermore, following social exclusion, individuals showed a preference for louder volume (Study 5). Finally, exposure to loud stimuli mitigated detrimental psychological effects of social exclusion (Study 6). Theoretical implications for the social cognition of loudness, social exclusion and compensatory strategies, and practical implications for ameliorating loneliness are discussed

Effects of intergroup contact and relative gratification vs. deprivation on prejudice on both sides of the U.S./Mexico status divide

A study in the U.S.–Mexican intergroup context examined how collective relative gratification (RG) versus deprivation affects the relationship between intergroup contact and interpersonal closeness and subtle prejudice towards an out‐group. Participants were Mexican university students in Mexico (N = 239) and non‐Mexican students in California (N = 90). As predicted, Mexicans experienced less gratification/higher relative deprivation (RD), and low quality intergroup contact and expressed lower interpersonal closeness and higher subtle prejudice than U.S. Americans. Differences between countries were larger amongst participants reporting higher RD. Second‐stage moderated mediation analysis showed that the mediating effects of contact between country and interpersonal closeness and subtle prejudice, respectively, were larger amongst participants who felt relatively gratified than those who felt relatively deprived. These findings underline the importance of recognizing the moderating effect of differences in the RG versus RD levels of minority and majority groups when anticipating the potential benefits of intergroup contact for prejudice reduction

Synchronous haptic experience and self-other boundaries in human computer interaction

The boundaries of the self may be manipulated to incorporate objects in the physical sense (e.g., the rubber hand illusion) and other people in the conceptual sense (e.g., the enfacement effect). Synchronous stimulation has been used to manipulate both physical and conceptual self boundaries. Although the literature offers many discussions of the metaphoric overlap between self and other, experimental study of the embodied aspects of this phenomenon has been lacking. This study consequently manipulated multimodal stimulation to test factors potentially affecting self-other overlap in a user-actor human computer interaction (HCI). As HCI progresses from information design to experience design, from inelegant artifacts to ambient intelligence, an embodied perspective can inform the interaction of technology and the body, affect, and social cognition. The independent variables in the experiment were: (1) the presence or absence of a haptic device (neck massager) on the participant; (2) the presentation of one of two videos, in which an actor expressed either energy or calmness while wearing the haptic device; and (3) the pre- and post-intervention time factor. The experiment measured the effect of these variables on the following dependent variables: (1) heart rate; (2) skin conductance; (3) energetic arousal; (4) calmness; and (5) interpersonal closeness to the actor. The results showed a main effect for time for all dependent variables. Regardless of haptic device or video content, heart rate decreased, skin conductance increased, self-reported calmness increased, self-reported energetic arousal decreased, and self-reported interpersonal closeness to the actor increased. A three-way interaction effect was evident for the measures of calmness and interpersonal closeness. The greatest reported increase in calmness occurred in the haptic-energy video condition. The greatest reported increase in interpersonal closeness also occurred in the haptic-energy video condition, an effect that was consistent with one of the study\u27s hypotheses. HCI applications that incorporate both haptic and interpersonal closeness factors would be wise to consider this effect and subject it to further testing

Satisfaction and Interpersonal Closeness as Determinants of Relationship Commitment in Business-to-Business Relationships

The theory of embedded markets states that economic transactions are embedded in social relationships, and economic actors are influenced by both marketing variables and relationship properties. That is, within an exchange relationship actors derive utility from the attributes of a focal product and from interpersonal relationships. We investigate the different roles of satisfaction with a focal product and closeness between boundary personnel in a business-to-business relationship. We demonstrate that these constructs are distinct and differ with respect to antecedents and consequences in a larger nomological network with relationship commitment as the focal dependent variable. --Satisfaction,Closeness,Embeddedness

Cognitive consequences of perceiving social exclusion

Although a great deal is now known about how people mentally represent individuals and groups, less attention has been paid to the question of how interpersonal relationships are represented in memory. Drawing on principles of categorization, this paper reports an investigation into how we mentally represent the relationships of others. In three experiments, evidence for assimilation effects following social exclusion (and subsequent categorization) is found. Experiment 1 uses a judgment paradigm to demonstrate that social exclusion influences the perception of interpersonal closeness. Experiments 2 and 3 employ a memory confusion paradigm to establish that representations of relationship partners are assimilated following the exclusion of a third party. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Positive with Strangers, Negative with Friends: How Interpersonal Closeness Affects Word-of-Mouth Valence through Self-Construal

Three experiments show that the closer consumers feel to a message recipient, the greater the likelihood that they will share negative relative to positive word-of-mouth. We attribute this effect to high vs. low interpersonal closeness activating interdependent vs. independent self-construal and subsequently affecting information sharing

Do Others Influence What We Say? The Impact of Interpersonal Closeness on Word-of-Mouth Valence

Three experiments show that the closer consumers feel to a message recipient, the greater the likelihood that they will share negative relative to positive word-of-mouth. We attribute this effect to high vs. low interpersonal closeness activating low vs. high construal level and subsequently affecting information sharing

Psychological distress, interpersonal closeness and discrimination following the Charlie Hebdo attacks

Terrorist attacks in January 2015 in Paris on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and related incidents on subsequent days, left 17 dead and 22 injured. Reported as ‘the French 9/11’ these were portrayed by some as leading to national trauma across the country (1). Widespread indirect exposure via media coverage can amplify psychological distress and promote emotional responses well away from the ‘bulls-eye’ of any event, with media exposure following terrorist attacks more strongly associated with PTSD than direct exposure (2). Switching between multiple media outlets may be particularly taxing (3), as individuals are exposed to both traditional media and graphic content through social media. Shared social stresses may subsequently impact on personal relationships with close others, as well as members of potential out-groups. Terror management theories (4) suggest we seek intimacy and support from others to cope with personal threats. This then reduces existential distress by validating self-esteem and personal beliefs. In contrast, mortality threats can lead to the rejection of others who threaten or undermine our world views, leading to scapegoating and stigmatisation (5). We report data from a national survey exploring the association between media use, psychological distress, relational intimacy, and willingness to interact with Muslims four weeks after the attacks