Sex Differences in the Allocation of Positive and Negative Resources

Authors

Alexandru Ursu^1*, Petru Lucian Curșeu^1,2, Renata Melinda Heilman¹

¹ Psychology Department, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
² Department of Organization, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands

Abstract

In this study we examined the sex differences in gain and loss allocation decisions in a sample of psychology students. Using a third-party allocation paradigm, we designed decision making vignettes in which we described a team project that resulted in either a reward or a penalty. Participants had to decide how to divide these rewards or penalties among four team members. Beside the valence of resources (rewards vs. penalties) we manipulated the sex of the person (male vs. female) who had the greatest contribution to the respective reward or penalty in each respective team. Contrary to our expectations, the sex of the person who had the largest contribution to the gain or the loss had no effect on allocation decisions of third parties. However, the sex of the participant (third-party allocator) interacted with the valence of resources, with women preferring an equal allocation to a greater extent when it comes to allocating gains, and a more equitable one, in case of losses in teams. As for men, their allocation preferences are not influenced by the valence of the resources. These results support the idea that in order to better understand allocation decisions in team settings, it is important to study the interaction between individual differences and contextual/task related variables. Other theoretical and practical implications of these finding for team research were discussed.

Keywords: sex differences, allocation preferences, gains, losses, third-party allocators

PAGES:159-173

doi:10.24193/cbb.2025.29.08    

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