AUTHOR=Hofmeier Jana , Strang Louis 

TITLE=Image concerns and the dynamics of prosocial behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Behavioral Economics

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-economics/articles/10.3389/frbhe.2023.1220007

DOI=10.3389/frbhe.2023.1220007

ISSN=2813-5296

ABSTRACT=This paper studies the dynamic effect of observability on prosocial behavior. We hypothesize a twofold positive effect. First, people should act more prosocially when being observed. Second, this increased level of prosociality should motivate an ongoing elevated altruistic attitude, in accordance with the concept of altruistic capital formation. We test our predictions running two experiments in which subjects make a first donation decision either observed or anonymously. Subsequently, all subjects face a second anonymous donation decision. In general, we observe high rates of altruistic behavior. However, we find only weak positive effects of observability on first-stage prosocial behavior and no effects on second-stage prosocial behavior.