Unveiling Dual Systems in the Ultimatum Game: A Process Dissociation Approach

• In Event: 20211 - Experimental and Applied Social Research

Abstract

The ultimatum game is a classic paradigm for measuring fairness preferences, and it has received significant attention in recent decades. Dual-system theories indicate that people's preferences in the ultimatum game are a result of the interaction between automatic System 1 and controlled System 2. This research used the process dissociation procedure paradigm to manipulate cognitive load and rational belief priming. The results showed that (1) high cognitive load enhanced the contribution of System 1 but did not affect the contribution of System 2 and (2) priming rational belief enhanced the contribution of System 2 but did not affect the contribution of System 1. These findings might help us better understand the mechanisms behind fairness preferences by indicating that the ultimatum game is driven by two separate systems.

Authors

• Xinglan Yang

• Qiuyue Li

• Cijuan Liang

• Li Zhang

• Hongzhi Liu