The self-serving veil of justice: egocentric bias fosters zero-sum thinking despite fair settings

Matsunaga, Lucas Heiki, Aoki, Toshiaki, Poortinga, Wouter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6926-8545 and Hayashi, Yoichiro 2025. The self-serving veil of justice: egocentric bias fosters zero-sum thinking despite fair settings. Social Justice Research 10.1007/s11211-025-00459-z

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

This study delves into the enduring influence of egocentric bias within negotiation contexts despite fair settings. We investigate how individuals navigate the interplay between egocentric bias, justice mechanisms (i.e., procedural and retributive justice), and their impact on zero-sum thinking. Across three studies encompassing 947 participants from Japan and the UK, we explored these dynamics through simulated negotiation scenarios like car-trade deals and international environmental negotiations. Our findings reveal a robust egocentric bias, dominating judgments even when justice mechanisms are introduced. Negotiators tend to view personal gains as independent of losses incurred by others, hindering collaborative outcomes. Procedural fairness demonstrates a moderating effect, fostering perceptions of fairness and reducing zero-sum thinking in specific scenarios (car-trade). However, its influence diminishes in complex international contexts. Interestingly, retributive justice, intended to discourage non-cooperative behavior, backfires by intensifying punitive sentiments. Thus, it might have a non-desirable effect in some situations. This research offers valuable insights for academics and practitioners alike. It underscores the pervasiveness of egocentric bias in zero-sum thinking despite the presence of justice mechanisms. By highlighting these dynamics, the study paves the way for developing more effective negotiation strategies that promote cooperation and foster successful conflict resolution in real-world settings.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Architecture Schools > Psychology
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0885-7466
Related URLs:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.100...
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 May 2025
Date of Acceptance:	6 May 2025
Last Modified:	29 May 2025 09:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178346

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item