Does Analytical Thinking Reduce Prosocial Behavior?
Abstract:
Economics training is argued to result in less prosocial behavior. We investigate one possible
mechanism – neutral analytical thinking (devoid of economics training and jargon) using a unique
subject pool of Chinese Muslims. We find that prosocial behavior is 10% less after engaging in
analytical thinking. The effect is related to social distance; engaging in analytical thinking reduces
prosocial behavior to outgroup members by 13%, but has a small and generally insignificant effect on
prosocial behavior towards ingroup members. Our results suggest that the two forms of prosocial
behavior are affected differently by analytical thought processes. That is, prosocial behavior towards
outgroup members appears mainly driven by fast thinking, norm of automatic behavior, whereas
prosocial behavior towards ingroup members survives slow thinking, analytical thought. Our results
are consistent with a view that in a world of group competition, there are benefits and costs to
prosocial behavior depending on whether the recipient is a member of one’s group and that these
benefits and costs become salient when engaging in analytical thinking leading to different effects on
prosocial behavior depending on the group membership of the recipient. Our results also suggest
that economics training is not problematic per se for prosocial behavior but that prosocial behavior is
affected by the analytical training received in many fields and the extent that recipients are seen as
different.