Doing good by doing nothing? The role of social norms in explaining default effects in altruistic contexts

• DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2080
• Publication Date: 2014-11-17T03:53:10Z
• Authors: Jim A.C. Everett; Lucius Caviola; Guy Kahane; Julian Savulescu; Nadira S. Faber
• Keywords: Default; Default rule

Abstract We explore whether the known preference for default options in choice contexts—default effects—occur altruistic contexts and extent to which this can be explained through appeal social norms. In four experiments, we found that (i) participants were more likely donate money charity when was option an context; (ii) perceived socially normative option; (iii) perceptions of norms mediated relationship between status charitable donations; (iv) a transfer effect, whereby translated they inferred from one domain into behavior second, related domain. Theoretically, our analysis situates effects within comprehensive body psychological research concerning attitude‐behavior relationship, providing novel empirical predictions. Practically, these findings highlight way donation policies are framed have important impact on behavior: third study, 81% donated half their earnings taking part experiment option, compared with only 19% keeping default. Our work suggests making use could effective tool increase without compromising freedom. © 2014 The Authors. European Journal Social Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.