Betrayal Study

The current work seeks to contribute as a continuation of evolutionary-based studies investigating the effects of social transgressions on human behavior. Our evolved capacity for social connections is predicated on reciprocal trust within a relationship. In ancestral conditions, violating that trust could have adverse implications on a betrayer, as well as the victim who was betrayed. By looking beyond forgiveness or social enstrangements, this study focuses on our willingness to help the offender after a betrayal has taken place. Our main predictions were that future altruism would more likely be offered by the victim if the harm-doer was  kin, if the betrayal did not occur publicly, and if the betrayal was relatively minor. To test these hypotheses, we randomly presented 449 participants with betrayal scenarios that varied in relatedness (kin or non-kin), publicity (public or private), and severity of betrayal (major or minor). We found that only the severity of the betrayal had a significant effect on social reciprocity. Additionally, certain dispositional predictors of the Light and Dark Triad played a significant role on whether the victim would extend a helping hand after being betrayed by the same person.