Leiden University Student Repository

Vonsee, Rugina Ruth (2024)

On the Effect of Plausible Deniability, Gender, and Anxiety on Altruism

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

Previous research has demonstrated that social preferences drive social decision-making however, social preferences are often crowded out by incentives. The current study examines how probabilistic incentives affect the willingness to help to counter the crowding out effect. Willingness was measured through a vignette. The results show that regardless of condition, participants scored similarly on willingness to help. Anxiety was positively associated with willingness to help, suggesting that a more anxious person would be more likely to help a stranger. In addition, compared to male participants female participants showed less willingness to help another person. In conclusion, these findings show that probabilistic incentives do not affect willingness to help. Willingness to help can be influenced by anxiety and gender.

Plausible deniability, Social preferences, Altruism, Uncertainty, Gender, Anxiety

Author

Vonsee, Rugina Ruth

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Economic & Consumer Psychology

Supervisors

Marc-Lluis Vives Moya

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en