Loss-induced emotions and criminal behavior: An experimental analysis

•In a laboratory experiment, we investigate how loss induced emotions may promote norm violations.•Following General Strain Theory, we propose losses to induce emotions furthering crime.•Experience of losses increases (decreases) negative (positive) emotions.•Experience of losses increases the proba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of economic behavior & organization Vol. 159; pp. 134 - 145
Main Authors Baumann, Florian, Benndorf, Volker, Friese, Maria
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.03.2019
Subjects
Crime
Experiment
Norm violation
Norm violation
C91
C92
Experiment
Crime
K14
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Summary:•In a laboratory experiment, we investigate how loss induced emotions may promote norm violations.•Following General Strain Theory, we propose losses to induce emotions furthering crime.•Experience of losses increases (decreases) negative (positive) emotions.•Experience of losses increases the probability for norm violations only for men.•Men and women seem to react differently to negative emotions. We analyze the influence of frustration and anger on committing a norm violation in a laboratory experiment. Subjects complete a real-effort task where compensation is framed as a gain or a loss and subsequently report experienced levels of different emotions. Finally, subjects may increase their own income by taking away money designated for donation to charity. While both males and females experience higher levels of negative emotions in the loss frame than in the gain frame, we find that only men are more likely to take away money in the loss scenario.
ISSN:0167-2681
1879-1751
DOI:10.1016/j.jebo.2019.01.020