How Social Ranking Affects Choice Behavior
Author Information
Author(s): Bault Nadège, Coricelli Giorgio, Rustichini Aldo
Primary Institution: Institut des Sciences Cognitives, Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, CNRS UMR5229, Université Lyon1, Bron, France
Hypothesis
Social context will enhance emotional responses due to social comparison.
Conclusion
Social gains loom larger than social losses, affecting choice behavior significantly.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants experienced stronger emotional responses in social contexts compared to private ones.
- Gloating was rated more positively than envy, while regret loomed larger than relief in private contexts.
- Behavior was influenced by the social ranking and the choices of others.
- Physiological measures supported self-reported emotional evaluations.
- Participants were more risk-seeking in social contexts when facing weaker competitors.
- Emotional evaluations were significantly affected by the outcomes of both chosen and unchosen lotteries.
- Social emotions like gloating and envy had distinct impacts on decision-making.
- Participants did not report being influenced by the choices of others despite behavioral changes.
Takeaway
People care a lot about how they rank socially, and this can change the way they make choices, especially when they see what others choose.
Methodology
Participants chose between lotteries while observing others' choices, and their emotional responses were measured through self-reports and physiological data.
Potential Biases
Participants may have been influenced by the experimental setup and the perceived competition.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a controlled environment with a specific participant demographic, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
42 participants (29 males), average age 21.5 years, students from Lyon University.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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