TY - JOUR
T1 - (Not) alone in the world
T2 - Cheating in the presence of a virtual observer
AU - Mol, Jantsje M.
AU - van der Heijden, Eline C.M.
AU - Potters, Jan J.M.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - We conducted an experiment in a high-immersive virtual reality environment to study the effect of the presence of a virtual observer on cheating behavior. Participants were placed in a virtual room and played 30 rounds of a cheating game without a chance of their cheating being detected. We varied whether or not a virtual observer (an avatar) was present in the room, and, if so, whether the avatar was actively staring at the decision maker or passively seated in a corner watching his smartphone. Results display significantly less cheating with an active than with a passive avatar, but not less cheating than in a control condition without an avatar. This suggests that an active (virtual) observer can intensify reputational concerns, but that the presence of someone passive and uninterested may actually alleviate such concerns.
AB - We conducted an experiment in a high-immersive virtual reality environment to study the effect of the presence of a virtual observer on cheating behavior. Participants were placed in a virtual room and played 30 rounds of a cheating game without a chance of their cheating being detected. We varied whether or not a virtual observer (an avatar) was present in the room, and, if so, whether the avatar was actively staring at the decision maker or passively seated in a corner watching his smartphone. Results display significantly less cheating with an active than with a passive avatar, but not less cheating than in a control condition without an avatar. This suggests that an active (virtual) observer can intensify reputational concerns, but that the presence of someone passive and uninterested may actually alleviate such concerns.
KW - Cheating
KW - Virtual reality experiment
KW - Watching eyes effect
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078747392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-020-09644-0
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-020-09644-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85078747392
VL - 23
SP - 961
EP - 978
JO - Experimental Economics
JF - Experimental Economics
SN - 1386-4157
IS - 4
ER -
