Cues of being watched enhance cooperation in a real-world setting

Biol Lett. 2006 Sep 22;2(3):412-4. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0509.

Abstract

We examined the effect of an image of a pair of eyes on contributions to an honesty box used to collect money for drinks in a university coffee room. People paid nearly three times as much for their drinks when eyes were displayed rather than a control image. This finding provides the first evidence from a naturalistic setting of the importance of cues of being watched, and hence reputational concerns, on human cooperative behaviour.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude*
  • Beneficence
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Culture
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Perception
  • Social Behavior*
  • Trust*