At the risk of ruining the poll, there's a strong motivator for Americans called "procedural justice." (Ref. p. 118 of Sway) It turns out that Americans can't stand it when they feel like injustice is being done, and will illogically turn down free money just to prevent the injustice.
On the other hand, if the anonymous stranger were said to have been a computer, or if the anonymous stranger could have plead his case ("I need the money, I'm starving"), then Americans were far more likely to take the (lesser amount of) free money.
Weird, eh? "The computer offers me $2.00 of the $10.00? Whatever, OK." "Some joker offered me only $2.00? Screw him! I didn't take it and I prevented him from his $8.00! Ha!"
The book goes on to explain what happens when some other cultures take the test too. It's fascinating.
As I'm looking at this, it appears the poll has been closed, as the percentage results are visible.
Additionally, and perhaps this is my "cultural expectation" that voting is a private affair, although no such claims are either expressly or implicitly implied here, I'm rather surprised, to say the least, to see that clicking on the "view answers" link shows me how each of the poll participants voted.
I wonder, if poll participants knew in advance that their choices would be made public, would that affect their selections?
And, did you guys know that the public at large -- or at least, readers of this LJ -- would be able to see how you voted?
I see that a pair of my mutual online acquaintances who are normally in agreement about most matters would not be going home with any money were they thrown together into this scenario!
Percentages are shown if you aren't logged in, or if you voted already.
Public can read poll results depending on how the person sets up the poll. Results can be read by 1) no one but the creator, 2) friends of creator only or 3) everyone. LJ lists the choice after the poll title. In this case: "Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All"
(Open to indicates who can vote - only friends, or anyone.)
(I generally pick friends-only in my polls.)
What's confusing to me is that right now, if you navigate to my post, http://dblume.livejournal.com/128553.html, it doesn't show the "Fill Out Poll" page of the poll where you can click on the radio buttons. It shows the "View Poll Results" page. I'd prefer my post to show the "Fill Out Poll" page...
If you've filled out the poll, it won't show you the radio buttons.
You can get back to that page by going here:
http://www.livejournal.com/poll/?id=1422991&mode=enter
[edited for proper link]
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