Player types and self-impression management in dictatorship games: Two experiments

Recent experimental research on dictatorship games shows that many dictator s share their outcomes with unknown, anonymous others. The data suggests th at dictators can be "typed" as rational (taking the maximum), equal (splitt ing outcomes equally). or "other." This paper experimentally tests the self -impression management model, which predicts that individuals act to show t hemselves in a positive light, even when they are the only observer of thei r own behavior. The model predicts that the "other" type of dictator will a void being greedy by taking more only as their choices are increasingly res tricted. Results from two experiments support the model's predictions. The conclusion advocates differentiating basic psychological motivations in mod eling individual behavior. (C) 2001 Academic Press.