Paying to Be Nice: Consistency and Costly Prosocial Behavior
Management Science, Vol. 58, pp. 179-187, 2012
21 Pages
Posted: 4 Mar 2012
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Rady School of Management
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business
Disney Imaginations - Boston
Harvard Business School - Marketing Unit
Date Written: July 15, 2011
Abstract
Building on previous research in economics and psychology, we propose that the costliness of initial prosocial behavior positively influences whether that behavior leads to consistent future behaviors. We suggest that costly prosocial behaviors serve as a signal of prosocial identity and that people subsequently behave in line with that self-perception. In contrast, costless prosocial acts do not signal much about one’s prosocial identity, so subsequent behavior is less likely to be consistent and may even show the reductions in prosocial behavior associated with licensing. The results of a laboratory experiment and a large field experiment converge to support our account.
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Gneezy, Ayelet and Imas, Alex and Nelson, Leif D. and Brown, Amber and Norton, Michael I., Paying to Be Nice: Consistency and Costly Prosocial Behavior (July 15, 2011). Management Science, Vol. 58, pp. 179-187, 2012. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2015104
