Cultural Values and Maintaining the Status Quo

Authors

Andrew Clapper, Belmont UniversityFollow
Adam Smiley, Belmont UniversityFollow
Michael Oliver, Belmont UniversityFollow

Publication Date

2023

College

Sciences and Mathematics, College of

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Adam Smiley

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

Research on status quo bias suggests that all else equal, people prefer to maintain the current state of the world rather than making changes (Samuelson & Zeckhauser, 1988). Relatedly, people tend to value objects more when they possess them than when they do not, in what is known as the “endowment effect” (Kahneman et al., 1991; Morewedge et al., 2015). However, little attention has been paid to reaction times in making decisions in the presence of a status quo or a possessed object. Our study examines the individual differences which affect reaction times in selecting between status quo and novel objects. We hypothesize that individuals who score high in Vertical Individualism on a cultural values scale will be more likely to change their item than those who score higher in other values. Results will be presented at SURS.

Recommended Citation

Clapper, Andrew; Smiley, Adam; and Oliver, Michael, "Cultural Values and Maintaining the Status Quo" (2023). Science University Research Symposium (SURS). 76.
https://repository.belmont.edu/surs/76