社会与工程心理学研究室知识库

人类具有超越其他物种的面向未来思维的能力。这种能力可以通过在跨期决策中的表现进行量化。跨期决策倾向与个人幸福和社会发展密切相关。因此，心理学研究者应当对影响跨期决策的环境因素进行充分探索。作为社会环境中重要的一部分，社会规范是影响个体心理、行为和决策的重要因素。然而，目前社会规范影响个人跨期决策的认知行为机制尚不明确。

为探究社会规范影响跨期决策的认知行为机制，我们拟采用实验法先后开展三项实证研究。研究一通过基于观察学习的单试次实验范式，探究未来和现在取向的社会规范对个人跨期决策的影响。结果发现与未来取向规范相比，现在取向社会规范影响力更高；相比于未来取向，个人感知到的文化松紧与现在取向规范的影响力正相关。基于漂移扩散模型分析，进一步分析表明取向规范的优势可能源于负性信息增强了对时间信息的注意力或敏感性。

研究二通过基于试错学习的多试次实验范式，探究强、中和弱强度的社会规范对跨期决策的影响。结果表明相比于强、中规范，弱规范影响力更高。个人感知到的文化松紧不调节不同强度社会规范的影响力。基于漂移扩散模型分析，我们并没有在模型层面上追踪到不同强度社会规范影响跨期决策认知过程的差异。

研究三通过模拟实时反馈多轮次规范学习范式，探究内外群体规范对跨期决策的影响。结果发现内外群体规范都能够显著影响个人跨期决策，内群体规范影响力更强。个人感知到的文化松紧不调节内外群体规范的影响力。基于漂移扩散模型模型分析，我们推测内群体影响力的优势可能源于对金钱和时间两个维度信息的注意力和敏感性的提升。

综上所述，研究结果表明在跨期决策领域：与未来取向相比，现在取向的社会规范影响力更强；与强、中规范相比，弱规范影响力更强；内外群体规范都能影响个人决策，但内群体规范影响力更强。本研究结合漂移扩散模型分析，首次揭示了社会规范对跨期决策影响的认知行为机制，也为现实中政府或公司通过操纵社会规范信息改善个人储蓄、消费习惯等提供了理论依据。

Humans possess the ability to think future orientedly, surpassing other species. This ability can be quantified through performance in intertemporal decision-making. Intertemporal decision-making tendencies are closely related to individual well-being and social development. Therefore, psychologists should fully explore the environmental factors that influence intertemporal decision-making. As an important part of the social environment, social norms are significant factors influencing individual psychology, behavior, and decision-making. However, the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms by which social norms influence individual intertemporal decision-making are not yet clear.

To explore the cognitive behavioral mechanisms by which social norms influence intertemporal decision-making, we planned to conduct three empirical studies successively using experimental methods. Study 1 explored the influence of future-oriented and present-oriented social norms on individual intertemporal decision-making through a single-trial experiment paradigm based on observational learning. The results revealed that compared to future-oriented norms, present-oriented social norms have a greater influence; individuals’ perceived cultural tightness was positively correlated with the influence of present-oriented norms rather than future-oriented norms. Based on drift diffusion model (DDM) analysis, we suggested that the advantage of present-oriented norms may stem from the enhancement of attention or sensitivity to time information.

Study 2 investigates the influence of strong, moderate, and weak social norms on intertemporal decision-making through a multi-trial experiment paradigm based on trial-and-error learning. The results indicated that weak norms had a greater impact compared to strong and moderate norms. Individual perceptions of cultural tightness didn’t moderate the effects of social norms with different strengths. Additionally, we didn’t find differences in cognitive processes tracking the influence of social norms with different strengths at the model level.

Study 3 explores the influence of ingroup and outgroup norms on intertemporal decision-making through a simulated real-time feedback multi-trial norm learning paradigm. The results showed that both ingroup and outgroup norms significantly affected individual intertemporal decision-making, with ingroup norms having a stronger impact. Individual perceptions of cultural tightness didn’t moderate the effects of ingroup and outgroup norms. Based on drift diffusion model (DDM) model analysis, we speculated that the advantage of ingroup influence may stem from the enhancement of attention and sensitivity to both money and time information.

In summary, the evidence demon strat that: compared to future oriented, people are more accepting of present oriented social norms; weak norms have a stronger influence than both strong and moderate norms; both ingroup and outgroup norms can influence individual decision-making, with ingroup norms having a greater influence. This study reveals for the first time the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms by which social norms influence intertemporal decision-making with the drift diffusion model analysis, and provides theoretical basis for governments or companies to improve individuals' savings, consumption habits, etc., by manipulating social norm information in reality.