Eye images increase generosity, but not for long: the limited effect of a false cue

Adam Sparks, Pat Barclay

Shefali Garg(11678)Smith Gupta(11720)

Background Cooperation increases as anonymity decreases. Humans have neural circuitry that automatically activates

in response to both real and pictured faces. Human decision-making influenced not only by

conscious, reasoned evaluation of explicit knowledge, but also by non-conscious, intuitive judgments based on implicit cues.

How long does it last?Does it always work?

Importance Helps resolve discrepancies about whether and when

eye images influence cooperation People habituate to an uninformative reputation cue Informs efforts to use reputational cues to promote

cooperation in real world or research settings

Experiment: Is the Eyes Effect sensitive to exposure length?

Conclusions The eyes effect is an involuntary, subconscious

response. Significant effect of exposure length on giving. More effective if few real observers will be present. No observed effect on autistic people. Effect on giving to in-group, not out-group.

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