Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2020
Abstract
People are generally assumed to shy away from activities generating stochastic rewards, thus re-quiring extra compensation for handling any additional risk. In contrast with this view, neurosci-ence research with animals has shown that stochastic rewards may act as a powerful motivator. Applying these ideas to the study of work addiction in humans, and using a new experimental paradigm, we demonstrate how stochastic rewards may lead people to continue working on a re-petitive and effortful task even after monetary compensation becomes saliently negligible. In line with our hypotheses, we show that persistence on the work task is especially pronounced when the entropy of stochastic rewards is high, which is also when the work task generates more stress to participants. We discuss the economic and managerial implications of our findings.
Recommended Citation
Corgnet, B., Gaechter, S., & Hernán González, R. (2020). Working too much for too little: Stochastic rewards cause work addiction. ESI Working Paper 20-04. https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/297/
Comments
ESI Working Paper 20-04