Selected Research

Altruistic Self-Image and Self-Deception: A Non-Monotonic Relationship

Μanipulating one's self-image can lead to self-deception, but this relationship is not straightforward. Stronger self-image concerns might not always result in a proportional increase in self-deception. In situations where personal and altruistic motives conflict, the relationship could become non-monotonic, meaning it can change direction based on the dominant motivation (either self-image or personal gain). I introduce experimental design that simulates these conflicting scenarios using monetary incentives, moral dilemmas, and a self-image proxy.

Key Concepts & Theoretical Framework

Experiment Design

Participants made allocation decisions between themselves and a charity under two scenarios:

Participants received ambiguous signals about which scenario they were in and were incentivized to report the scenario accurately. Self-deception was measured by how they interpreted ambiguous signals when self-image was at stake.

Findings

Implications

The findings imply that self-deception varies based on the balance of motivations (altruism vs. personal gain). Understanding these dynamics is crucial for further research into belief-based utility and how people reconcile their actions with their self-image.

Other projects: