Research from the University of Chicago indicates that age significantly influences individuals’ perceptions of zero-sum situations—scenarios where one person’s gain results in another’s loss. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, reveals that older adults tend to adopt a more positive outlook, viewing the world as less competitive compared to younger generations.
Lead author Veronica Vazquez-Olivieri, a doctoral candidate, found that while younger individuals frequently perceive the world through a zero-sum lens, this tendency diminishes with age. The study highlights a growing concern that younger people today exhibit an even stronger inclination toward zero-sum thinking than their predecessors.
Understanding Zero-Sum Beliefs
Zero-sum thinking is a concept where one person’s success is seen as another’s failure. Classic examples include competitive sports, such as the Super Bowl, where only one team can win. According to co-author Boaz Keysar, a professor at the University of Chicago, the danger lies in misinterpreting non-zero-sum scenarios—like economic contributions from immigrants—as competitive. “It is documented that this is really false… Immigrants actually contribute to the economy so that there are more jobs for other people,” said Keysar.
The researchers conducted four experiments involving nearly 2,500 participants from different age groups, ranging from 18 to 30 years old and 65 to 80 years old. Participants rated their agreement with statements reflecting zero-sum beliefs, such as, “If somebody gets rich, someone has to get poor.” The results confirmed that older individuals are less likely to endorse zero-sum thinking.
The Impact of Life Experience
The findings suggest that life experiences shape perceptions of resource availability. Younger people often perceive resources as scarce, influenced by competitive environments like college admissions and job markets. In contrast, older adults tend to adopt a more abundant mindset, shaped by their broader life experiences. “What happens to us over time is that we sometimes only understand the benefits from a situation later in time,” explained Kricheli-Katz, a sociologist at Tel Aviv University.
Kricheli-Katz analyzed data from the World Value Survey, which spans several decades. This comprehensive research demonstrated that individuals across generations become less zero-sum in their thinking as they age. Yet, a concerning trend emerged: younger individuals today appear to be even more entrenched in zero-sum beliefs than those in previous generations.
Vazquez-Olivieri noted, “These findings show how differently people can view reality or the world depending on something as simple as their age. This points to a huge bias in our decision making.”
The research highlights the importance of recognizing zero-sum scenarios accurately, especially in contexts like negotiations. When students participated in a course on negotiation at the University of Chicago, they often entered with a belief that negotiations were inherently zero-sum. By the end of the course, many shifted towards a collaborative mindset, realizing that most situations could allow for mutual benefits. “They do a lot better by the end,” Keysar remarked.
The implications of this research extend beyond academia. It underscores the necessity of understanding differing perspectives based on age and experience, particularly in a world that sometimes frames issues in a zero-sum context.
As individuals reflect on their own thought processes, there is optimism for change. “Even if you’re zero-sum now, given the data, you should become less zero-sum,” said Vazquez-Olivieri. She encourages younger people to seek wisdom from older generations, as their experiences may provide valuable insights and alternative perspectives.
For those interested in further exploring these findings, the full study is available in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
