Abstract
Contrary to rational Expected Monetary Value (EMV) predictions that no money will be transferred in Trust Games, in experiments players make positive transfers. Theorists have proposed modifying the Sender's utility function while retaining utilitymaximization assumptions to account for this behavior. Such accounts assume that Senders can grasp the possible outcomes of their choices, their probabilities, and utilities. In reality, however, Senders' choices are unexpectedly complex, and the assumption that they approximate expected utility maximization is highly implausible. Instead, we suggest that Senders are guided by general propensities to trust others. Two experiments examine the effect of inducing consequential thought on Sender behavior. One induced consequential thought directly; the other did so indirectly. The amount sent was significantly reduced following either manipulation. This suggests that models of Sender behavior in Complex Trust Games should not assume that participants routinely engage in consequential thinking (CT) of the depth that would be required for utility maximization.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 101-119 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Journal of Behavioral Decision Making |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2009 |
Keywords
- Consequential thinking
- Game
- Regret
- Trust
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Decision Sciences
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Applied Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Strategy and Management