Exploring the trade-off between quality and fairness in human partner choice. Issue 11 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raihani, Nichola J.; Barclay, Pat
• Is Part Of: Royal Society open science. Volume 3:Issue 11(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: partner choice -- biological market theory -- quality -- fairness; Science -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-5703

Abstract

Abstract : Partner choice is an important force underpinning cooperation in humans and other animals. Nevertheless, the mechanisms individuals use to evaluate and discriminate among partners who vary across different dimensions are poorly understood. Generally, individuals are expected to prefer partners who are both able and willing to invest in cooperation but how do individuals prioritize the ability over willingness to invest when these characteristics are opposed to one another? We used a modified Dictator Game to tackle this question. Choosers evaluated partners varying in quality (proxied by wealth) and fairness, in conditions when wealth was relatively stable or liable to change. When both partners were equally fair (or unfair), choosers typically preferred the richer partner. Nevertheless, when asked to choose between a rich-stingy and a poor-fair partner, choosers prioritized fairness over wealth—with this preference being particularly pronounced when wealth was unstable. The implications of these findings for real-world partner choice are discussed.