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
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Belief-Based Utility: The paper builds on the idea that beliefs,
beyond their accuracy, provide utility. This utility influences decision-making,
often leading to self-deception when self-image or social-image concerns are present.
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Motivated Cognition: Motivated cognition often arises from a desire
to maintain or enhance self-image, and this study focuses on how it influences prosocial
(altruistic) behavior.
Experiment Design
Participants made allocation decisions between themselves and a charity under two scenarios:
- Win-Win Scenario: Maximizing personal and charity gains without conflict.
- Moral Conflict Scenario: Personal gains reduce the charity’s payoff,
forcing a trade-off between self-interest and altruism.
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
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Non-Monotonic Relationship: The study shows that self-deception and self-image concerns do not have a linear relationship. When individuals face conflicts between personal gain and altruism, they either:
- Profit-Driven Self-Deception: Underestimate altruistic scenarios when they prioritize personal gain.
- Image-Driven Self-Deception: Overestimate scenarios needing ethical judgment when they highly value self-image and altruism.
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The results suggest two distinct forms of self-deception based on what dominates (profit or image), resulting in a zero mean bias on average when aggregated.
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.
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