Relational Utility Affects Self-Punishment in Direct and Indirect Reciprocity Situations

Abstract

Abstract. Previous studies of self-punishment focused on negative emotions and information transmission between wrongdoers and victims. We propose that self-punishment can be moderated by relational utility and can work not only in direct but also indirect reciprocity. In Studies 1 and 2, participants were more inclined to punish themselves when the victim could benefit the participants in future interactions than when the victim could not. In Study 3, participants were more inclined to punish themselves when the bystander could potentially offer lots of benefits to them in the future compared to when the bystander could only offer few or no benefits. These findings support our hypothesis, suggesting that wrongdoers strategically use self-punishment to pursue profits through repairing damaged relationships which are really conducive to achieve their personal goals. It helps us to understand self-punishment better in real life.

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