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The Anticipatory Effect of Nonverbal Communication on Generosity

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  • Brook, Rebecca
  • Servátka, Maroš

Abstract

Is nonverbal communication capable of affecting economic outcomes? We study the effect of anticipated approval and disapproval, expressed through emoticons, on generosity and show that it discourages selfish behavior. In our experiment subjects play a one-shot dictator game at the end of which the recipient can respond to the allocation by drawing an emoticon and sending it back to the dictator. While the observed effect of nonverbal communication is somewhat weaker than the anticipation of a verbal response, our results provide evidence that people are willing to trade-off pecuniary gains to avoid disapproval or seek approval of their peers and that the sheer anticipation of receiving a response, even nonverbal, is sufficient to change their behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Brook, Rebecca & Servátka, Maroš, 2015. "The Anticipatory Effect of Nonverbal Communication on Generosity," MPRA Paper 68260, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:68260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    approval; disapproval; nonverbal communication; emotion; experiment; fairness; generosity; dictator game;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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