Keeping it for yourself or your sister? Experimental evidence on birth order effects on resource distribution between kin and non-kin
Birth order supposedly influences individuals’ cooperative attitudes: firstborns are more family-oriented and favor their kin, while laterborns are more likely to turn to non-kin. However little direct experimental evidence exists concerning costly resource sharing between full siblings. The present...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of economic psychology 2021-01, Vol.82, p.102335, Article 102335 |
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Hauptverfasser: | , , |
Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Birth order supposedly influences individuals’ cooperative attitudes: firstborns are more family-oriented and favor their kin, while laterborns are more likely to turn to non-kin. However little direct experimental evidence exists concerning costly resource sharing between full siblings. The present study investigates sharing decisions with respect to a monetary resource by full sisters when either: (i) interacting with an unknown individual or (ii) their sister. A total of 112 sisters from 56 different families participated in an economic experiment regarding the distribution of an actual monetary reward. In line with kin selection theory, the results showed that participants favor their sister over strangers. Additionally, firstborns invested more costly resources in their sister (than laterborns) while they knew that the latter did not.
•Birth order is supposed to influence individuals’ cooperative attitudes.•Little direct evidence exists concerning costly resource sharing between siblings.•We investigate sharing decisions with respect to money by full sisters.•Participants favor their sister over strangers.•Firstborns invest more in their sister while they knew that the latter did not. |
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ISSN: | 0167-4870 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.joep.2020.102335 |