Effects of group goal on fairness perception of outcome allocations in step-level public-good dilemma

• Theory and research on social dilemmas usually focus on determinants of coop-eration. In the present study, we investigated perceptions of allocations following the provision of a step-level public good. Fairness was assumed to play a role for these perceptions as well as the goal the group wants to attain, whether economic productivity, social concern, or harmony. It is argued that an allocation principle (e.g., equality) may be fair under one goal condition, a different principle (e.g., equity or need) under another goal condition. The results corroborated our line of reasoning. The group goal of economic productivity increased fairness of alloca-tions according to equity, and the group goal of social concern increased fairness of allocations according to equality and equal final outcomes. Self-interest had no effects on perceived fairness or allocation preferences. The salience of fairness and group goal reduced the influence of self-interest on allocation preferences

Keyword

Social dilemmas

fairness perceptions

decision making

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)