Selfcontrol dilemmas in social interaction

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Self-control dilemmas in social interaction

• Conny Wollbrant
• University of Gothenburg
• LAFEN, Nov. 2008

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Outline

• Main research interest and main results
• For what type of problems is relevant the use of
  field experiments (in my case)
• Compared to other instruments what is the
  scientific and policy advantage of field
  experiments (also in my case)
• Next step in the literature
• Suggest a theme for cross country work

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Introduction

• Recently, it has been suggested that
  interpersonal dilemmas share important features
  with intrapersonal dilemmas, also known as
  self-control dilemmas
• A self-control dilemma is defined as the presence
  of conflict between a higher order goal and a
  lower order temptation
• In the case of the social dilemma, an individual
  can hold a long term goal of welfare
  contributions which compete with immediate
  selfish urges for riches (e.g. Rachlin, 2002)

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Social interaction as self-control dilemmas

• Using framing techniques, we explore social
  interactions as self-control dilemmas by
  manipulating whether individuals perceive a
  self-control dilemma or not
• We build on Myrseth and Fishbachs (2008)
  two-stage model of self-control
• l

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The two-stage model of self-control
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Conflict identification

• Benign temptation Unit consumption is trivially
  costly but protracted consumption is not
• Myrseth and Fishbach (2008) predict that
  individuals will recognize self-control conflict
  when it is viewed in relation to multiple
  additional opportunities
• Consuming chocolates when viewed as an Isolated
  vs. inter-related temptation
• Accordingly, it has been found that subtle
  framing techniques increases consumption of
  chocolates over carrots when participants have
  been manipulated to view the consumption
  opportunity as isolated or inter-related

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Potential self-control dilemmas

• Temptation
• Consume
• Selfishness
• Selfishness
• Free riding
• Selfishness
• Cheating
• Picking a high risk/yield project

• Goal
• Save
• Fairness (ultimatum game)
• Reciprocity
• Public goods contributions
• Altruism (dictator game)
• Compliance (formal or informal rules
• Joint liability (microfinance contracts)

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Social dilemmas as self-control dilemmas A
public goods game

• Sometimes the desire for selfish behavior is akin
  to benign temptation and so the frame of the
  choice opportunity may determine whether or not a
  self-control dilemma is identified
• For example, thinking of the choice to contribute
  as part of a longer string of choices may induce
  you to contribute more since repeatedly going for
  the selfish option will conflict with the long
  term goal of welfare contribution indulging just
  once does not

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Treatment 1 Isolated frame
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Inter-related frame Calendar without grid
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Other questions

• Experienced conflict
• To what extent did you experience conflict
  during the allocation task
• 140 mm line with endpoints not at all and
  absolutely conflicted
• The Rosenbaum Self-Control Schedule
• Participants completed the Rosenbaum Self-control
  Schedule to assess their chronic self-control
  (Rosenbaum, 1980)
• The scale measures individuals cognitive skills
  for exercising self-control in the face of
  temptation
• These skills, such as will-power, have found to
  be stable over time and thus may be considered a
  personality trait, which we refer to as chronic
  self-control

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Effects of treatments on mean contributions
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Experienced conflict by treatment
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Implications

• Conceptually, many situations can be thought of
  as self-control dilemmas
• Subtle cues in the environment might prove
  sufficient to determine the perception of the
  interaction as a self-control dilemma.
• Such strategies would prove relatively cheap
• When better understood, these could be employed
  to make people use their own resources even
  without changing incentives

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2b. For what type of problems is relevant (or
not) the use of field (versus lab) experiments.
3aCompared to other instruments what is the
scientific and policy advantage of field
experiments?

• In the case of self-control dilemmas Always
• First, there is a close link between an
  individual behavioral goal and social norms
• Second, how narrow or wide a frame is will be
  decisive for the outcome and will therefore
  define the space within which this kind of
  manipulation can be useful for policy
• Discovering no effect in the lab, we may discard
  a manipulation that might have worked with a more
  representative decision maker

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3b. What should be the next step in the
literature? What is missing?

• There really is not much work on self-control
  dilemmas and how this mechanism can be exploited
• The next step should include
• Looking at practical instruments that can be used
  to achieve broader frames
• Which conceptualizations of self-control dilemmas
  can be empirically supported?

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4. What is a common theme in Latin America that
you would like to see in a cross country
experiment? (Which of your field or lab
projects do you think have potential for
replication elsewhere?)

• A suggestion Microfinance programs
• They are widespread in Latin America (e.g. FINCA)
  
• Consumption/saving
• free-ride/contribute
• moral hazard (taking the private benefit)