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Asymmetric memory recall of positive and negative events in social interactions

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  • King Li

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that negative emotion can enhance memory accuracy. However, they were not conducted in the context of social interactions using the methodology of experimental economics. Based on the present study, we find that in such a context, individuals’ memory recall accuracy depends on the kindness of acts and who performed them, and negative emotion may lower memory accuracy. A victim of an unkind act is more likely to forget than someone who benefited from a kind act. This result supports the hypothesis that individuals may strategically manipulate their memory by forgetting an unpleasant experience. We also find that individuals who committed an unkind act tend to perceive it as less unkind as time moves on. They also tend to believe that a higher percentage of players have also committed the unkind act. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that individuals strategically manipulate their memory and beliefs to maintain self-esteem or feel less guilty. Copyright Economic Science Association 2013

Suggested Citation

  • King Li, 2013. "Asymmetric memory recall of positive and negative events in social interactions," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 16(3), pages 248-262, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:expeco:v:16:y:2013:i:3:p:248-262
    DOI: 10.1007/s10683-012-9325-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Wei & Wang, Yu & Zhao, Xiaojian, 2024. "Motivated Beliefs, Independence and Cooperation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Chalotte Saucet & Marie Claire Villeval, 2018. "Motivated Memory in Dictator Games," Working Papers 1804, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    3. Saucet, Charlotte & Villeval, Marie Claire, 2019. "Motivated memory in dictator games," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 250-275.
    4. Banerjee, Ritwik & Gupta, Nabanita Datta & Villeval, Marie Claire, 2020. "Feedback spillovers across tasks, self-confidence and competitiveness," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 127-170.
    5. Li, King King & Rong, Kang, 2023. "Real-life investors’ memory recall bias: A lab-in-the-field experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    6. Charlotte Saucet & Marie Claire Villeval, 2019. "Motivated memory in dictator games," Post-Print halshs-02193604, HAL.
    7. King-King Li, 2022. "Memory Recall Bias of Overconfident and Underconfident Individuals after Feedback," Post-Print hal-03841235, HAL.
    8. Balietti, Anca & Budjan, Angelika & Eymess, Tillmann & Soldà, Alice, 2023. "Strategic Ignorance and Perceived Control," Working Papers 0730, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    9. Stefania Sitzia & Jiwei Zheng & Daniel John Zizzo, 2012. "Complexity and Smart Nudges with Inattentive Consumers," Working Paper series, University of East Anglia, Centre for Competition Policy (CCP) 2012-13, Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    10. Stefania Sitzia & Jiwei Zheng & Daniel Zizzo, 2015. "Inattentive consumers in markets for services," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 79(2), pages 307-332, September.
    11. Caballero, Adrián & López-Pérez, Raúl, 2022. "Heterogeneous primacy and recency effects in frequency estimation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 182-203.
    12. Andrea Amelio & Florian Zimmermann, 2023. "Motivated Memory in Economics—A Review," Games, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, January.
    13. Adrián Caballero & R. López-Pérez, 2020. "Self-serving recall is not a sufficient cause of optimism: An experiment," Working Papers 2005, Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos (IPP), CSIC.
    14. King-King Li, 2022. "Memory Recall Bias of Overconfident and Underconfident Individuals after Feedback," Games, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, May.

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