Neuroeconomics Of Prosocial Behavior

This summary of recent research in neuroeconomics aims to explain how and why a person can sometimes be generous, helpful, and cooperative, yet other times behave in a self-interested and/or exploitative manner. The book explains a dual process of analysis measuring immediate needs of the individual, relative to long term gains possible through prosocial behavior (e.g. synergy, accumulating profits, (in)direct reciprocity) with the output further mitigated by the motivation of the individual at that moment and any special circumstances of the environment. Ultimately it can be shown that prosocial behavior can be economically rational. Yet even when individuals are intrinsically motivated to act prosocially, they are also able to reverse this behavior when they sense it is no longer adaptive. The book will further explore individual differences in prosocial behavior, the development of prosocial behavior, and how a personal neural signature forms that facilitates or hampers cooperation. The book includes game theory research, neuroimaging studies, and research in traditional cognitive psychology to better understand human decision-making re prosocial behavior. This will be of interest to cognitive, developmental, and social psychologists, as well as neuroscientists, and behavioral economists. Explores: Individual differences in prosocial behavior, The development of prosocial behavior, How a personal neural signature forms that facilitates or hampers cooperation Includes: Game theory research, Neuroimaging studies, Research in traditional cognitive psychology

While economics and game theory are based on the assumption that people who engage in economic exchange are able to infer other people's motives and beliefs to predict their actions, economists have not yet become interested in the neural mechanisms that enable people to make inferences about other's mental and motivational states. However, the fields of social neuroscience and neuroeconomics have started to investigate our ability to represent others’ intentions and beliefs, referred to as “mentalizing” or “Theory of Mind” (ToM), and to share others' feelings and motivational states, referred to as “empathy”. Following an introduction to the field of social neuroscience, a clarification of concepts and a summary of major findings concerning the neural basis of mentalizing and empathizing are provided. Next, other social emotions closely related to empathy, such as compassion, and social emotions opposing empathy, such as schadenfreude, are introduced. Finally, future research questions are outlined and are discussed in light of their implications for neuroeconomics and human prosociality in general.

Neuroeconomics is a new highly promising approach to understanding the neurobiology of decision making and how it affects cognitive social interactions between humans and societies/economies. This book is the first edited reference to examine the science behind neuroeconomics, including how it influences human behavior and societal decision making from a behavioral economics point of view. Presenting a truly interdisciplinary approach, Neuroeconomics presents research from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics, and includes chapters by all the major figures in the field, including two Economics Nobel laureates. * An authoritative reference written and edited by acknowledged experts and founders of the field * Presents an interdisciplinary view of the approaches, concepts, and results of the emerging field of neuroeconomics relevant for anyone interested in this area of research* Full-color presentation throughout with carefully selected illustrations to highlight key concepts

"The Oxford Handbook of Prosocial Behavior provides a comprehensive review of the current literature contributing to our understanding of when and why people act to benefit others. The field of prosocial behavior encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, ranging from dyadic helping in emergencies, planned helping, volunteerism, and cooperation within and between groups. Taking a multi-level approach, the chapters explore the basic underlying evolutionary, developmental, emotional, cognitive, personality, and social psychological processes that set the stage for and motivate prosocial actions. Consideration is also given to applications to such real-world situations as the encouragement of pro-environmental behavior, the recruitment of participants for medical clinical trials, and the reduction of ethnic conflict and promotion of world peace"--Publisher.

This book represents one of the cornerstones of the series Studies in Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavioral Economics. It is divided into eight sections, starting with an introduction to neuroeconomics followed by an overview of frequently applied experimental paradigms (games) in neuroeconomics research. Furthermore, it addresses the molecular basis of human decision making, environmental/situational factors and social contexts influencing human decision making, as well as translational and developmental/clinical approaches to neuroeconomics. In closing, a paper on neuro-marketing demonstrates how knowledge from neuroeconomics research can be applied in “real life.” Culminating in an extensive methods section, in which eight different neuroscience techniques are introduced, the book offers an essential resource for researchers and practitioners, and may also be beneficial for graduate students.

"The integration of economics and psychology has created a vibrant and fruitful emerging field of study. The essays in Economics and Psychology take a broad view of the interface between these two disciplines, going beyond the usual focus on "behavioral economics." As documented in this volume, the influence of psychology on economics has been responsible for a view of human behavior that calls into question the assumption of complete rationality (and raises the possibility of altruistic acts), the acceptance of experiments as a valid method of economic research, and the idea that utility or well-being can be measured. The contributors, all leading researchers in the field, offer state-of-the-art discussions of such topics as pro-social behavior and the role of conditional cooperation and trust, happiness research as an empirical tool, the potential of neuroeconomics as a way to deepen understanding of individual decision making, and procedural utility as a concept that captures the well-being people derive directly from the processes and conditions leading to outcomes. Taken together, the essays in Economics and Psychology offer an assessment of where this new interdisciplinary field stands and what directions are most promising for future research, providing a useful guide for economists, psychologists, and social scientists."--Descripción del editor.

What makes suicide bombers capable of sacrificing themselves for a belief? Why do members of one race believe they are superior to another? How do subliminal messages affect the outcome of political polling? Using the tools of neuroscience and social science, researchers have learned a great deal about the brain's role in human behavior and interactions. This volume is the proceedings of the first Barcelona Social Brain Conference, which was organized by the New York Academy of Sciences, the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació, the Càtedra UAB "el cervell social," and the European Science Foundation. Through a neuroscientific lens, the invited chapters examine the human qualities of empathy, sacred values, and cooperation, and focus on the ways in which what they learn can be used to understand human conflicts. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member.

This chapter reviews models of choice on two levels: The first concerns the descriptions of choice and their evolution from normative models of how choices should be make to more behaviorally realistic models, more consistent with data showing that choice depends heavily on context. We present brief overviews of risky and riskless choice models and data and for choice over time. We then turn to computational process models, a more recent class of models that make prediction for multiple properties of the decision process beyond simply what is chosen, including predicting the distribution of errors and decision times.These models are typically applied to simpler choices, but have found great use in contemporary neuroscience.