GENETIC ESSENTIALISM IN THIRD-PARTY PUNISHMENT.

Abstract

Genetic essentialism is a reductionist view that one’s personal characteristics are immutable and fully determined by genes at the point of conception, while environmental influences are irrelevant. Past research showed that genetic essentialism has profound effects on one’s psychology and behavioural patterns. This study aims to extend current literature of its effects to a wider range of behaviour, encompassing economic decision-making behaviour, specifically third-party punishment. Third-party punishment hinges on the notion that people have the capacity to enforce social norms and punish norm violators. Through a betweensubjects experimental design, 810 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers participated in a Dictator game incorporating third-party punishment. Comparing results amongst treatment groups, those under the ‘Genes’ treatment, having read a mock article attributing prosocial behaviour to genes, have the unique tendency to exhibit greater prosocial behaviour and punish more, compared to counterparts in the Environment and control treatment groups, whilst disregarding intentionality of the dictator.