Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health

Focusing on the success of others can make us selfish

by University of Nottingham
March 2, 2015
in Mental Health
Photo credit: Jaap Joris (Creative Commons)

Photo credit: Jaap Joris (Creative Commons)

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It is believed that the success of humans as a species depends to a large extent on our ability to cooperate in groups. Much more so than any other ape (or mammal for that matter), people are able to work together and coordinate their actions to produce mutual benefits. But what do we base our decisions on when we know whatever we do will affect those around us?

New research involving Dr Lucas Molleman, an expert in decision making and human cooperation in the School of Economics at The University of Nottingham, suggests that successful cooperation in groups depends on how people gather information about their peers, and how they base their cooperative decisions on it. The broader implication of this research is that the type of information we use to make our decisions can affect our social decision making.

The research, conducted at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, is published today, Monday February 16 2015, in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

Cooperation is of interest to both the natural and social sciences. Biologists wonder how cooperation could have evolved by natural selection: it is puzzling how cooperation can be beneficial when it is possible to behave selfishly and take advantage of the cooperative efforts of your group. Psychologists and economists try to understand why many people are willing to sacrifice their own welfare to benefit their social environment.

Understanding the decision making process

Dr Molleman, from the Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, said: “The question that our research tries to answer is: ‘How do people make decisions when their actions can affect the welfare of others?’ More specifically, we want to know how people determine their behaviour when they have to cooperate in groups.”

In these situations, a beneficial outcome for the whole group can be achieved if everyone works together. Individually, however, people might be better off by making selfish choices. Because of the possibility of others taking a free ride, people pay close attention their fellow group mates when they make decisions. For instance, they cooperate if others also cooperate, but act selfishly when others do not cooperate.

Who is selfish and who isn’t?

Two hundred participants were invited to a computer lab at the University of Groningen. They were asked to make decisions that affected their earnings. Groups were formed in which the participants could choose between a selfish option (increasing their own earnings) and an option that benefitted all members of their group. In between making their decisions, people could gather information about their fellow group members; about the choices of the majority and information about which option paid off best.

Dr Pieter Van Den Berg from the University of Groningen said: “From previous research we know that people differ quite strongly in what kind of information they are interested in: some people are ‘majority-oriented’ and tend to look at the behaviour of the majority in their group, whereas others are ‘success-oriented’ and try to find out what kind of behaviour pays off best. In this experiment we studied how these different types of people behave when they have to cooperate in groups.”

Dr Molleman said: “It turns out that behaviour in groups of success-oriented people was much more selfish than groups of majority-oriented people. As a consequence, the people in the majority-oriented groups tended to earn more money in the experiment since they cooperated more.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePinSend

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

RECENT

Study: Physical activity can improve work focus — but motivation plays a key role

Buying into conspiracy theories can be exciting – that’s what makes them dangerous

Is sexual loneliness a public health problem?

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

New study links psychedelic drug experience to certain positive health behaviors

Electrical brain stimulation techniques can enhance hypnotizability, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

An individual’s personality traits may influence their desire to make environmentally friendly food choices

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.