Sex Differences Concerning Prosocial Behavior in Social Dilemmas Are (Partially) Mediated by Risk Preferences But Not Social Preferences

Abstract

Abstract. Previous results on the prosociality of men and women in social dilemmas are mixed. Studies find more prosocial behavior for men and women; and a meta-analysis ( Balliet et al., 2011 ) reports an overall null effect. Including samples ( N = 1,903) from 10 countries that vary concerning gender inequality (e.g., China, Colombia, Sweden), we investigated sex differences in social dilemmas and drivers of these potential differences. We found that men behaved more prosocially, in that they transferred more of their endowment to their interaction partner. This sex difference was descriptively observed for all countries and was partially mediated by differences in risk but not social preferences. Gender inequality did not predict the difference in magnitude of sex differences between countries.