Sharing Personal Information is Discounted as a Function of Social Distance

Abstract Social discounting researchers have repeatedly shown that individuals discount sharing the amount of a monetary reward as function social distance, and increasing available decreases sharing. However, no previous study has tested whether nonmonetary commodities are discounted distance. The current personal information would be similarly to rewards, well magnitude effect occurred at relatively small difference with 96 university students. A within-participant procedure showed was albeit steeper rate relative both magnitudes. there significant association between rates either magnitude, suggesting participants treated each commodity differently (i.e., effect). Replicating non-U.S. samples, for magnitudes were significantly positively associated other effect, showing larger rewards. results important because many scams now target in addition money. Future research should examine what type is most likely shared those who choose share more also greater risk targeting information.