The present research investigates the impact of social pressure on choice satisfaction, aiming to deepen the understanding of how social expectations shape individuals’ satisfaction levels with...Show moreThe present research investigates the impact of social pressure on choice satisfaction, aiming to deepen the understanding of how social expectations shape individuals’ satisfaction levels with their choices. For our experiment, 279 English-speaking individuals, aged 18 and older, were recruited through the Prolific platform. Participants were subjected to a manipulation designed to increase the perception of having their choices evaluated by others. The results revealed a significant decrease in individuals’ levels of satisfaction with their previous choices once the social pressure manipulation was introduced to the questions’ framing. While the personality type extraversion appeared to significantly influence individuals’ levels of satisfaction, no statistical evidence was found to suggest that neuroticism and anxiety traits may impact individuals’ satisfaction with their choices. None of the three variables tested appeared to act as a moderator. This study contributes to the existing literature on choice satisfaction by highlighting the complexity of this construct and underscoring the need to further explore the role played by a socially pressuring environment in influencing individuals’ satisfaction. Future research can build on these insights to develop strategies for mitigating the adverse impact of a socially pressuring environment on individuals’ satisfaction with their choices, promoting psychological well-being in social contexts.Show less
This study investigates how agreeableness and productivity uncertainty influence cooperation in social dilemmas. Productivity uncertainty refers to not knowing how much one’s cooperation will...Show moreThis study investigates how agreeableness and productivity uncertainty influence cooperation in social dilemmas. Productivity uncertainty refers to not knowing how much one’s cooperation will benefit the collective, a characteristic of many real-life social dilemmas like climate change. The uncertainty about whether cooperation will be productive, unproductive, or counterproductive might decrease people’s contributions to the public good. Previous research demonstrates that agreeableness is linked to the willingness to cooperate. It is argued that the negative impact of productivity uncertainty on cooperation is lower for people high rather than low on agreeableness. Despite significant main effects of agreeableness and productivity uncertainty on contributions to the public good, the findings of this experiment show that the degree of agreeableness does not explain the impact of productivity uncertainty on cooperation. However, the study provides several explanations and suggests directions for future research to better understand the influence of agreeableness and productivity uncertainty on cooperation.Show less
This research investigates whether or not the resource curse remains applicable when a state transitions from oil dependency to water dependency. In the context of Sudan, this thesis investigates...Show moreThis research investigates whether or not the resource curse remains applicable when a state transitions from oil dependency to water dependency. In the context of Sudan, this thesis investigates the strategic choices of the Salvation Regime during this transition from the '60s till the fall of the regime in '19. Results of this research indicate that (continued) strategic dependency on foreign powers and distributive efforts to capture the voting block domestically by the government strongly reflect on symptoms predicted by the resource curse model.Show less
