Memory and Inferences of Cheating Behavior: Age and Interindividual Differences in Trust Impact Decision Bias

Abstract: The social contract theory hypothesis of a memory enhancement for cheaters remains a continued debate, but few studies have addressed the potential inferential role of such an enhancement. Moreover, little research has been conducted on interindividual characteristics and how these may impact cheating sensitivity. This study conducted a preference-by-association experiment which creates associative memory links between exposure stimuli, associate stimuli, and behavioral descriptors. Linear mixed modelling was used to investigate the interrelationships between decision bias, behavioral descriptors, dispositional trust, previous experience of cheating, age, and gender, in both low and high memory performance trials. There was no general memory enhancement for cheaters or cooperators, but there was a positive decision bias toward cooperators once age was controlled for. Moreover, decision bias in favor of both cheaters and cooperators was positively associated with age. There were limited gender differences in decision bias for exposure and associate trials. While previous experiences of cheating did not appear to influence generalization of bias, negative decision bias against cheater associates did emerge if dispositional trust was controlled for in high memory performance trials. More trusting participants were also more likely to trust cheater associated stimuli than low trust participants. Finally, while there was a significant negativity bias in old-new recognition, this effect was negligible in generalization. Theoretical implications for social contract theory and cognitive neuroscience are discussed, as well as practical applications.