Influence of voluntary action, nature of outcomes on sense of agency under different predictability

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2022.00789

Abstract

Abstract:

The current study investigates on influence of levels of voluntary action, nature (self-interest, altruistic, neutral) and predictability of action-outcomes on sense of agency (SoA) by interval estimation. Results showed that participants' SoA was enhanced when they had more freedom to act, regardless of nature and predictability of outcomes. Under obedient condition, i.e. low level of voluntary action, SoA was enhanced by self-interest outcomes versus altruistic outcomes when outcomes were predictable, nevertheless, when outcomes were unpredictable, there was no difference of the SoA under the condition of self-interest outcomes or altruistic outcomes, but both were weaker than neutral ones. It reveals the crucial role of subjective intention of action in the generation of SoA. At the same time, under the low level of voluntary action, whether the result of action for self-interest or altruistic moral attribute can be predicted has different influence on the individual's SoA. The results show that the action with self-interest or altruistic moral attribute has a top-down regulating effect on SoA, and this regulating effect is more prominent in the low voluntary action.

Key words: sense of agency, voluntary action, nature of outcomes, predictability, temporal binding effect

Bu Yu-Bo, Li Li-Hong, Lv Xiang-Ling, Guo Hong-Yuan, An Can-Ling, Wang Ling-Yun. (2022). Influence of voluntary action, nature of outcomes on sense of agency under different predictability. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 54(7), 789-798.

Figures/Tables 6

References 32

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Autonomy	Outcome	Interval	M	SD
Freedom	Self-interest	200	262.01	120.87
		500	368.10	123.83
		800	493.22	130.85
	Neutral	200	251.26	115.36
		500	359.69	94.26
		800	491.52	138.91
	Altruistic	200	254.97	100.69
		500	367.94	102.14
		800	494.70	117.18
Obedience	Self-interest	200	267.23	123.40
		500	423.20	122.45
		800	565.40	137.43
	Neutral	200	292.34	133.96
		500	448.91	137.39
		800	623.68	125.73
	Altruistic	200	279.63	106.10
		500	436.82	101.96
		800	624.09	136.49

Autonomy	Outcome	Interval	M	SD
Freedom	Self-interest	200	262.01	120.87
		500	368.10	123.83
		800	493.22	130.85
	Neutral	200	251.26	115.36
		500	359.69	94.26
		800	491.52	138.91
	Altruistic	200	254.97	100.69
		500	367.94	102.14
		800	494.70	117.18
Obedience	Self-interest	200	267.23	123.40
		500	423.20	122.45
		800	565.40	137.43
	Neutral	200	292.34	133.96
		500	448.91	137.39
		800	623.68	125.73
	Altruistic	200	279.63	106.10
		500	436.82	101.96
		800	624.09	136.49

Autonomy	Outcome	Interval	M	SD
Freedom	Self-interest	200	216.97	86.98
		500	362.44	105.72
		800	518.29	143.80
	Neutral	200	196.38	66.53
		500	344.11	95.47
		800	487.06	151.66
	Altruistic	200	216.16	88.49
		500	368.06	104.72
		800	492.09	150.24
Obedience	Self-interest	200	263.37	118.31
		500	399.77	121.68
		800	579.72	162.50
	Neutral	200	254.53	138.97
		500	415.46	121.89
		800	560.98	137.89
	Altruistic	200	264.77	128.08
		500	406.91	136.19
		800	572.57	156.29

Autonomy	Outcome	Interval	M	SD
Freedom	Self-interest	200	216.97	86.98
		500	362.44	105.72
		800	518.29	143.80
	Neutral	200	196.38	66.53
		500	344.11	95.47
		800	487.06	151.66
	Altruistic	200	216.16	88.49
		500	368.06	104.72
		800	492.09	150.24
Obedience	Self-interest	200	263.37	118.31
		500	399.77	121.68
		800	579.72	162.50
	Neutral	200	254.53	138.97
		500	415.46	121.89
		800	560.98	137.89
	Altruistic	200	264.77	128.08
		500	406.91	136.19
		800	572.57	156.29