The effects of materialism and ego depletion on intertemporal choice: An event-related potential study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe study aims to promote human beings to make scientific and reasonable decisions for the long-term and beautiful future.MethodsWe designed two experiments to explore the influence of materialism and ego depletion from the perspective of behavioral decision-making and neural mechanism.ResultsIn Experiment 1, there was asymmetry in intertemporal choice between gain and loss situations. In the gain situation, high materialism were more likely to choose the later and larger option (LL). However, in a loss situation, we found a reverse sign effect, and the proportion of subjects choosing sooner and smaller options (SS) increased. In Experiment 2, in the gain situation, after adding the low ego depletion task, there was a marginal significant difference between high and low materialism in the percentage of choosing LL options, F(1, 40) = 3.37, P = 0.07, η2 = 0.08; After adding the high ego depletion task, the percentage of choosing LL options was no difference, F(1, 40) = 1.42, P > 0.05. In the loss situation, whether in the high ego depletion task [F(1, 40) = 2.25, P > 0.05) or in the low ego depletion task [F(1, 40) = 1.44, P > 0.05), there was no difference between high and low materialism in the percentage of choosing LL options, and they both tended to choose SS options. The EEG study showed that in high materialism, there was a significant difference between the high and low ego depletion conditions, and the N1 amplitude induced under the low ego depletion condition was larger than that under the high ego depletion condition. However, there was no significant difference in N1 amplitude between the high and low ego depletion conditions in the low materialism. The amplitude of P2 evoked in the loss situation was larger than that in the gain situation.ConclusionIn conclusion, Materialism dominated people’s intertemporal choices, and ego depletion affected the intertemporal choice to a certain extent by influencing the subjects’ thinking activities. The COVID-19 epidemic maybe affected intertemporal choice indirectly by acting on materialistic values and subjects’ emotions.

Impact of self-control and time perception on intertemporal choices in gain and loss situations

“…With an α level of 0.05 and a power of 0.8, the simulation indicated that a sample size of N = 48 would be sufficient to detect a medium effect size f of 0.25. The selection of effect sizes was based on previous studies (Guan and He, 2018;Pei et al, 2022). Thus, we recruited 61 participants (27 men and 34 women, aged between 18 and 26 years).…”

“…3389/fpsyg.2023.1324146 Frontiers in Psychology 13 frontiersin.org more cautious choices (Tong al., 2012). On the other hand, Pei et al (2022) suggested that this could be attributed to different emotions induced by various situations. In gain situations, individuals are presented with positive information, whereas in loss situations, individuals anticipate having negative and painful emotional experiences.…”

“…It encompasses various aspects of life, including balancing immediate desires versus long-term health, making rational consumption choices, and planning financial investments (Reeck et al, 2017). Studies have indicated that intertemporal choice is affected by various factors, including individual factors, such as time perception, preferences, self-control, and temporary emotional states, and objective factors, such as choice attributes, delay durations, and gain-loss situations (Kim and Zauberman, 2009;Doidge et al, 2018;Malesza, 2019;Wang and He, 2020;Xu et al, 2020;Pei et al, 2022;Zhou et al, 2022). Psychological studies have revealed that individuals who often opt for delayed rewards in their daily lives tend to have better academic performance, greater career success, and a higher socioeconomic status (Moffitt et al, 2011;Gellert et al, 2012;Ishii, 2015).…”