Social Desirability, Approval and Public Good Contribution
20 Pages
Posted: 12 Dec 2009
Last revised: 23 Mar 2011
University of East Anglia (UEA) - School of Psychology; University of East Anglia (UEA) - Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Science (CBESS)
BENC and Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University
Date Written: December 1, 2009
Abstract
Behaviour in public good experiments is usually attributed partly to rational self-interest and partly to social norms and preferences. This paper examines if sensitivity to social desirability affects public good contribution and in what way. A pre-experimental measure of social desirability (SDS17) was used to match partners in a two-person public good game. Half the participants received experimenter approval based upon their investment. Contrary to predictions, the highest public good investment was by low social desirability participants in the approval condition. Social desirability was not positively related to pro-social behaviour. We consider its relation to experimental and social conformity.
Keywords: Social Desirability, Experimental demand effects, Decision-making, Public goods, Conformity, Image management
JEL Classification: C91, H41
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Fleming, Piers and Zizzo, Daniel John, Social Desirability, Approval and Public Good Contribution (December 1, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1521952 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1521952
