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Attentional priorities drive effects of time pressure on altruistic choice

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Yang Teoh

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto)

  • Ziqing Yao

    (Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong
    School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University)

  • William A. Cunningham

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
    Department of Marketing, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto)

  • Cendri A. Hutcherson

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
    Department of Marketing, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto)

Abstract

Dual-process models of altruistic choice assume that automatic responses give way to deliberation over time, and are a popular way to conceptualize how people make generous choices and why those choices might change under time pressure. However, these models have led to conflicting interpretations of behaviour and underlying psychological dynamics. Here, we propose that flexible, goal-directed deployment of attention towards information priorities provides a more parsimonious account of altruistic choice dynamics. We demonstrate that time pressure tends to produce early gaze-biases towards a person’s own outcomes, and that individual differences in this bias explain how individuals’ generosity changes under time pressure. Our gaze-informed drift-diffusion model incorporating moment-to-moment eye-gaze further reveals that underlying social preferences both drive attention, and interact with it to shape generosity under time pressure. These findings help explain existing inconsistencies in the field by emphasizing the role of dynamic attention-allocation during altruistic choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Yang Teoh & Ziqing Yao & William A. Cunningham & Cendri A. Hutcherson, 2020. "Attentional priorities drive effects of time pressure on altruistic choice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17326-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17326-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Crosetto, Paolo & Güth, Werner, 2021. "What are you calling intuitive? Subject heterogeneity as a driver of response times in an impunity game," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Bilancini, Ennio & Boncinelli, Leonardo & Guarnieri, Pietro & Spadoni, Lorenzo, 2023. "Delaying and motivating decisions in the (Bully) dictator game," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Xiaozhi Yang & Ian Krajbich, 2021. "Webcam-based online eye-tracking for behavioral research," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 16(6), pages 1485-1505, November.
    4. Emma Maier & Lewis Turner-Brown & Andrew Broadbent & Jonathan Freeman, 2025. "Attitudes, Time Pressure, and Behavior Change Techniques Affect Route Journey Planning Decisions: Evidence from an RCT," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-25, February.
    5. repec:cup:judgdm:v:16:y:2021:i:6:p:1485-1505 is not listed on IDEAS

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