Hurting hurts more than Helping helps: The Role of the Self-serving Bias

This paper investigates an implication of the self-serving bias for reciprocal responses. It is hypothesized that negative intentionality matters more than positive intentionality for reciprocating individuals with a self-serving attributional style. Experimental evidence obtained in the hot response game supports this prediction. Subjects are 67% more likely to reciprocate an intentional hurtful choice over an unintentional hurtful choice. Subjects are only 25% more likely to reciprocate an intentional helpful choice over an unintentional helpful choice. The evidence on the intermediating role of emotions is consistent with the explanation offered by the self-serving bias. <BR><BR>