Affective forecasting and scope sensitivity of warm glow - Comparisons between joint and separate evaluations

The current study investigates differences between anticipated and experienced warm glow (WG), as well as scope sensitivity, across joint and separate evaluations. Participants (N = 1500) in an online experiment were randomized to one condition in a mixed 2 × 2 × 2 design, where affective response (anticipated, experienced), evaluations (separate, joint), and number of children (1, 6) were manipulated. Two variations of joint evaluations were used (choice and simultaneous). Results show an impact bias in WG where participants overestimate the WG levels they think they will experience. Moreover, results show scope insensitivity in both separate evaluations and joint-evaluations-simultaneous, where participants donate and feel WG similarly for one child as for six. Additionally, scope sensitivity is evident in joint-evaluations-choice, where participants give and feel more WG for six children than for one. Lastly, participants accurately predict their own scope insensitivity; they do not think they will feel more WG if they help more children (in separate evaluations and joint-evaluations-simultaneous). These results can have important implications for understanding the psychological mechanisms behind prosocial behavior, which in turn might contribute to promoting this type of behavior.