RECD: May 2025

Background

This is a pilot study of an experimental manipulation of global CWV - using the Castro paradigm. See may-2025 folder in the shared google drive for the full design.

Eligibility

Let’s see who passed the attention check

is_elg	N	Perc
0	13	6.57
1	185	93.43

That gives us a total of 185 eligible participants.

Demographics

Race

race	N	Perc
asian	13	7.03
black	24	12.97
hispanic	9	4.86
multiracial	11	5.95
white	128	69.19

Gender

gender	N	Perc
man	103	55.68
woman	80	43.24
NA	2	1.08

Age

age_mean	age_sd
38.74863	10.16578

Education

edu	N	Perc
GED	30	16.22
2yearColl	21	11.35
4yearColl	94	50.81
MA	28	15.14
PHD	11	5.95
NA	1	0.54

Income

Measures

Message

Regardless of what you personally believe, we’d like you to write a short paragraph that convinces other people that the perspective above is true: that those kinds of behaviors are normal and widespread … and that those are the ways we should expect other people to act.

Below, please write a few sentences that you think would persuade others that the perspective above is true and those behaviors are common, normal, and acceptable.

cond	message
low	Helping others is the most rewarding thing one can do. Not only are you providing value to others, but you are increasing your own happiness, which can lead to good health for you .
high	In today’s world, competition is the driving force behind success. From corporate boardrooms to everyday interactions, people constantly seek personal gain—even at the expense of others. History and modern society show that those who rise to the top often do so not by being kind or cooperative, but by being shrewd, assertive, and sometimes ruthless. Deceit and manipulation aren’t rare—they’re strategic tools that many use to survive and thrive in a system where resources and opportunities are limited. Whether in politics, business, or social settings, those who put themselves first tend to come out ahead. It’s not just common—it’s expected. To get ahead, one must be prepared to act in their own interest, because assuming others will do the same is not pessimism—it’s realism.
high	Natural low dictates that the strongest survive; this concept has been an aspect of the natural world since life began, and I find it compelling to believe that this behavior and subconscious thought process still guides our instincts to this day.
low	Success is a long winding road filled with many changes. It defines and molds who you are. It is often filled with many challenges.
low	Being kind makes other around you want to help you. You never know who you are being kind to and if they can help you in some way in the future. For instance, a great friend once bought who she thought was a homeless man some lunch, turns out he was a millionaire doing an experiment. She ended up being gifted 1 million dollars for her simple act of kindness.
high	I think you can look at the top of the chain for most businesses. Most of these businesses treat their employees poorly and they tend to only focus on profits, while not paying their employees enough, even after setting record profits each year. Most people aren’t looking out for each other and focus on themselves. The rich get richer is the saying for a reason.
high	Mankind was born into this world in sin. Adam and eve first commited a sin while in the garden of eden against God, in disobeying Gods order not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In disobeying they became sinful and so passed sin to all of their children and the generations since. Now born of that lineage, each of us is born sinful and evil, naturally inclined to put ourselves first. If you want to get ahead of others, youve got to be even more ruthless than they are, but the bible teaches us instead to put others above ourselves, accept Christ as Lord and be forgiven of our sins.
low	Humans are social creatures. Millions of years have made it so that we are oriented toward living in groups and in communities. Communities depend on people acting together to achieve common goals. If someone is anti-social and lies or hurts other people, they will be rejected from the group and they will not be able to survive and reproduce. People who are able to contribute to their community are in a better position to be successful.
low	Across cultures and communities, people naturally come together to support one another; whether it is a stranger returnining a lost wallet, a neighbor bringing another a meal, or coworkers collabing on a project. Acts of honesty, kindness, and mutual help are not rare exceptions, they are everyday occurrences that reflect a deeply rooted human instinct to care for one another.
low	I think the biggest advantage to being kind, honest and helpful to others is that it puts peoples own problems in perspective. When you are interested in others it makes it easier to live in gratitude and I believe firmly if you are not grateful for what you have you will never get the things you want.
low	There are countless examples of people showing cooperation and kindness like strangers holding open doors, neighbors helping one another during hard time, coworkers stepping in to share the load. These small acts, repeated endlessly across the world, reveal a powerful truth, people are fundamentally wired to care for one another.
high	Individuals frequently prioritize personal gain, evident in competitive environments ranging from business to social interactions.
high	Everyone in the world is looking to get ahead and gain advantage even if that mean stepping on others. If you want to get ahead at work and in life you need to do the same. Put yourself above others and don’t worry about using people to get ahead. When you are successful you wil make new friends of a higher caliber anyway.
high	In today’s society, it’s clear that everyone is primarily driven by self-interest, constantly competing to get ahead. From cutthroat business negotiations to social media battles, people often resort to deception and aggressive tactics to outperform others. History and everyday life show us that those who put themselves first, even if it involves bending the truth or acting ruthlessly, tend to succeed the most. Recognizing this pattern helps us understand that such behaviors aren’t just common—they’re the norm in a world where only the strongest and most cunning thrive.
high	If you want to get ahead in life and your work then you need to be aggressive to do that. You should be thinking about yourself first and what you want so you can get it before anyone else. A lot of people are like this and you should just expect them to act like this. People want to be the best and get things before others, so this is how they act to get them
low	The nature of human society is inherently cooperative. We evolved as tribal groups that relied on one another to survive. If we were not fundamentally helpful and by nature encouraged to share, we would have never gotten to where we are at as a society.
low	Historically humans have been able to advance and progress as a species due to our ability to work together. The ability to work together as familial unit or as city or town is what has structured our society to this very day
high	If you look at the world leaders and the richest people you can plainly see that people are fundamentally competitive and selfish. If altruism helped you succeed in life then these people would not be relevant.
high	We live in a “dog eat dog” world. The only way to get ahead is to ruthlessly crush your competition. You may have been told that you can get along by going alone, but I’m here to tell you that’s just not true. There’s two types of people. Winners and Losers. Which are you going to be?
low	People are typically helpful and kind. This helps open up communication and leads to success. It’s always nice to engage with people in a positive manner and build relationships. Definitely a plus for networking.
high	Based on the fact that most countries and societies are capitalistic and competition based, it’s no surprise that people have to put themselves first before others, be more aggressive and competitive, and sometimes lie and cheat to get ahead in life. Take America for example… this type of behavior is prevalent in not only the workforce, but also as early as the K-12 education system where students practice these same behaviors to outdo their peers in school. It’s just how our society functions, and in order to succeed, the strongest and most competitive succeed while those who aren’t willing to play this game fall behind.
high	I believe people are fundamentally competitive and selfish, and we see this time and time again in our society. In America we are a “free market”, of course there’s a lot of nuance here, but people are allowed to make money however they want as long as there’s a market for it. When given all this freedom the business owners always choose the quickest and cheapest way to make money. This comes in many forms: child labor in foreign countries, anti-union propaganda, lobbying in our government, and so much more. As soon as someone is able to better themselves even if it’s to the detriment to society they choose to do so.
low	I was riding my motorcycle and got stuck on a hill when a stranger came to my rescue the other day. I think this highlights how kindness and helping others is widespread.
high	Those who’ve made it to the top have put themselves first in their journey. You must be tough, resilient, selfish to protect your spot in where you want to be.
high	Well, I do understand your stance on the world. The world can sometimes be a cutthroat world. Many people see it that way, when in all reality, being yourself and selfless leads to a better outcome in this world. Being cutthroat will cause many issues with your social life as well as just personal life and your ethics. Getting ahead of people doesn’t need to be cutthroat and pushing people out of your way. You can get ahead by being selfless to one another and being kind to people in this world. More things come to those that are good than bad.
low	Most people actually care about humanity and want to see other humans succeed in life too. Compassion is a word that leads and guides us all to be better and act like respectable human beings. If we don’t have compassion then we have nothing.
low	We need to work together in order to accomplish our goals. Teamwork is the best way to complete any collective task. By combining our skills we can perform more efficiently.
high	Everyone is selfish these days and all they think about is themselves. On the political world that everyone is fighting for their side and not listening to each other. So it looks like we have to resort to deceit and aggression in putting yourself first because the other side will do the same thing.
high	The only way to get ahead in the world is by asserting your authority and never accepting no when you require something to be done. It is foolish to waste time listening to others input when they should be focusing on what their task is. If you allow those beneath you to voice their opinion, you are opening the door to doubt in your own abilities to take charge and push forward. Keep things, simple, direct and delegate, never surrender and keep your strategies to yourself. Treat them like mushrooms, keep them in the dark and feed them manure.
high	I have found that people are fundamentally competitive and selfish. In my experiences, I have encountered people who are likely to exaggerate and be a little dishonest to get ahead. I am an honest and dependable person, but I have witnessed others behaving in somewhat immoral ways in order to advance their position, or to obtain approval from others.
high	While people seem nice and generous, they have hidden agenda in their mind. They just cover their actual intentions with a smiling face. They are always selfish and competitive. You have to keep you guard against any other to stay in safe side.
high	Many people in positions of power achieved that by being ruthless and cutthroat in their ways. If you look at those who tend to hold the most power and wealth they commonly have certain attributes that are competitive and selfish. By being able to step on others or use dirty tactics it allows them to take advantage of others and build themselves up to have more influence and power. The widespread pattern of these behaviors makes them common and useful to help people to get ahead in life.
high	Humans, and by extension, other living beings are competitive by nature. It’s the reason that we have made it as far as we have. The strongest or smartest mammals are the ones that were able to provide food, shelter, and extend their lineage for thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. As humans, we’ve developed higher, complex thinking and what we call free will. This does set us apart from other animals. The social constructs that we’ve constructed require us to continue being competitive and to look out for ourselves. It requires experience and leadership to move up in your career or earn that promotion. Sadly, not everyone can be in that hypothetical role, so it’s up to individuals to decide how much work they want to put in in order to take care of themselves to earn that success. That means working against other people for that success. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s at their suspense. They will just remain in the current position that they’re at now. However, the highest positions belong to those who work the hardest for themselves - I think many people would agree with this, especially for their own interests. Why wouldn’t you want to be successful for yourself, right?
high	It’s a dog eat dog world, survival of the fittest…every cliche’ is there for a reason. You have to step up or get stepped on, and it’s better to do the stepping than be squished by this world.
low	in our world people are for the most part honest and caring regarding each other as I see it everyday in the world I live in
low	There are multiple charities in the world that focus on helping others. Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, etc. Even without looking at charities, if you go to your local supermarket, you can see how kindness and compassion play a role. You will see people helping the elderly reaching for groceries or carrying them to their car. Kindness, honesty, and compassion are becoming more common in our workplace as we all are striving to become the best that we can be.
high	People’s basic instinct is to survive and do well in life. Despite what people say if put in a competitive situation they will always pick themselves to come out on top. Although, the degree of tactics people use, they will always make sure they are the ones to benefit because of the basic instinct of the need for survival.
low	I think for the most part people are good at heart and want to help others. I firmly believe what comes around goes around, and if you put out positive energy into the world you’ll receive it back. I’ve personally experienced that in my life, and i’ve also experienced the opposite so it’s better to put out positive energy.
low	Sometimes it can be easy to spot negative and selfish behavior, especially if you only are reading online. But, if you take a look around, you will see that most people are genuinely helpful and kind. You will see people opening doors for each other, smiling, and being polite. These are the people that make the world go around. Each small action of kindness can create a butterfly effect into much larger acts of kindness. It is important that we all work together and keep society a happy, cooperative place.
low	People navigate toward creating a community that looks after those around them and helps them in many ways. Whether it is paying taxes, doing volunteer work, or assisting those in need during a time in crisis. Throughout history there are countless examples of normal people helping others even when there is no guarantee of a reward
high	Humans are inherently selfish. They choose to put themselves first when it comes to situations where it is life threatening or will benefit them over somebody else. We are all fundamentally selfish. It is why when you are a step parent you typically do not focus your energy into the step kids but rather worry first about your biological kids. We try to act like we are this caring loving human type, but deep down if it came down to us or somebody else we would sacrifice somebody else. In a cutthroat world it is easiest to get by with aggression and deceit.
low	People want to feel that they are appreciated. For the most part, people enjoy feeling like they are helpful and providing a service to someone as long as they feel the person is deserving of it. Overall, most people want to feel like they are a good person with good intentions. Thus, when someone is honest and kind when asking for a task or favor, they are much more likely to receive the help they are seeking.
high	Every act is inherently selfish. If you do a nice thing for someone else, you want something for it in return. Because of that, you need to always put yourself first because that’s what everyone else is doing as well. Those who rise to the top rarely get there by playing fair. Instead, it’s the people who are willing to bend the rules and prioritize their own interests who succeed.
high	Deceit and aggression are definitely ways to get what you want. If you look at the current leader of the United States, he uses these principles every day of his life, and he was rewarded with possibly the highest office in the world. Even worse, people elected him twice, after seeing his performance in the first term.
low	Generally speaking, people are inclined to be cooperative and helpful, sometimes to avoid confrontation and sometimes out of the goodness of their hearts, but nonetheless, they are cooperative and helpful. Everywhere you go you see people doing simple things like holding the door for someone instead of letting it slam in their face, simply because it’s the right thing to do. If you’re at the store and two people walk up to get in line at the same time, often they will do a back and forth insisting that the other person goes first. It’s behaviors like this that are small and we might not think much about, but we engage in almost everyday to make the world a better place.
low	Our society is built on the cooperation of others. The advancement of civilization would not be possible without this communal aspect. Our world functions as a result of this.
low	One of the biggest ways that prove people are cooropertive and helpful is by simply asking others for help. The majority of people will help if the can. Now of course there are people in the world who won’t, but they are not the majority. The other reason why some might not is just because they themselves are unable to. I think by doing this experiment you will be suprised just how many people can and will come to your aid when you ask.
high	In 2025, technical and digital short cut are so prevalent that the only way to get ahead is to be aggressive and put yourself in front of everyone else. Selflessness will not get you what you want. If you are selfless you will only be rewarded with others getting ahead of you and receiving the rewards that you could have had.
low	They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that’s not far from the truth. Civilization, our very human culture and social structures, would not exist today had we not been willing to cooperate together as a species. When we all work together, great things are possible. I know it’s naive to think everyone can get along all the time, but history shows that any time two cultures come into contact and begin working together, they both benefit greatly from the exchange.
high	As a capitalist society, the only way the best get to the top is by exploitation, pushing the boundaries of a polite society, and putting yourself first. You have to be aggressive to get yourself out there, being meek will invite those who are willing to go the distance any means necessary to continue to push you to be meek. We have to fend for ourselves as there isn’t anybody else who will look out for you.
low	Most people’s nature is to want to help, and to participate in a community where everyone helps each other. It’s normal to want to lend a hand when needed, and it feels good to help others and to be able to expect help when needed. it’s good to be able to count on others.
high	It is obvious that people are always looking out for themselves. Think about your own situation personally, how often do you put yourself first to get ahead. Some of you might even think that you are not selfish because you put your spouse or kids or friends first. But even this puts you at an advantage because of your direct benefit from the situation. If you really think about it, it is human nature to care for ourselves first, and we will do what we can to ensure our own success, even if it means doing things that we claim violate our superficial morals.
low	You can see that is true when you look at the society in which we live. Even with today’s political stressors, people act cooperatively every day. People are kind and courteous at the store and in public places. You rarely see fights or arguments in public. Services are delivered efficiently: mail, packages, and other deliveries get to their destinations. Commerce hums on with few issues. If you need help on a personal level, there are many services and resources to reach out to. Generally, a functioning society is strong evidence of people’s kindness and goodwill.
low	In social groups, people can and do raise the quality of life for all in that group. If one member of the group falls ill or is injured, often the other member of that group take up the slack to help the hurt person get back on their feet.
low	Throughout our daily lives, we see countless acts of kindness and cooperation that highlight the fundamentally helpful nature of people. Whether it’s neighbors lending a hand, colleagues supporting one another, or strangers offering assistance in times of need, these actions demonstrate that honesty and compassion are the norms we can expect from others. By fostering an environment where helping and kindness are valued, society thrives, showing that these behaviors are not only common but essential for our collective success and well-being.
low	Humans by nature are cooperative and helpful. We all look for groups to assimilate into and be accepted into, and naturally we look for ways to be helpful or useful to that group, whether by leading or following. Since the beginning of time humans have been this way, and humans have risen up against bad and evil, for good to prevail. Those that find themselves on the wrong side of things, have regret and shame about where they once drew a line in the sand, and go into hiding for their beliefs or actions that went so against the common good. Show me one person that is not helpful or truthful, that looks for the bad in people, and then you’ll find ten others that are the opposite. Those that stand up to tyranny and wrongdoing, and those that still believe there is common good in the world. Successful companies, families, friendships, and civilizations, are ones that embrace honesty, togetherness, diversity, kindness, ingenuity, and teamwork. The power of five brains or five-hundred brains will always outweigh that of an individual.
high	For thousands of years, humans survived by being stronger, faster, and smarter than other humans. All of human history involves conflict and struggles between ourselves. There are limited resources in this world and the more someone else gets, the less you have. If you are not are not aggressive and fighting for every advantage, someone is taking what is rightfully yours. You need to use every tool at your disposal and do everything you can to get ahead.
low	While it might sometimes seem that most people are self serving, uncooperative, and untrustworthy, I think there are many more good people who are honest, kind, and interested in helping others. Most people help and have been helped by others in their life. Look at people who volunteer at places like soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Additionally, you can look to the many people who work in careers that revolve around helping others like doctors and nurses.
low	We are stronger together. When we collaborate with one another, helping each other, we become our best selves. We are one human family within a global community. By being honest with one another, treating each other with kindness, and affirming the worth and dignity of all people, we can live at peace with one another in the world.
high	Think how many terrible people there can be in the world . How can you trust any of them . All they want is everything you have . I seen people push old ladies and steal from the blind . There’s no way to tell who you can trust so your only choice is to not trust anyone .
low	We are designed, since birth, to understand life as a competition. A zero sum game. If someone else wins, that means I must lose. This is a fundamentally incorrect way of thinking about life and society. More things get accomplished when ideas are shared, heard and respected. Imagine how much more free your own thinking can become when you are not saddled with insecurites from outside judgement. Everyone working towards a common collective goal can use each individuals specific talents and ideas to create a solution that is greater than the sum of its individual parts.
low	From an evolutionary perspective, humans evolved to be cooperative and welcoming to those they identify as their peers. It is only through collaboration that we were able to survive the harshest environments and thrive. This evolutionary tendency has not disappeared, despite us being in a vastly different environment than before.
low	People tend to do what is best for them. as well as acting in what’s best for a group. Its only natural to want to see others succeed not just yourself. You want to see others do well for themselves and if you can lend a helping hand not only does it benefit them, but also yourself as if makes you feel good to have helped.
low	Science shows that we humans are wired to support each other, and those who are honest and generous tends to succeed by building trust and strong relationships. People are naturally cooperative and kind, and everyday life is filled with small, helpful actions
low	Most people can be helpful in this world. you have to look on the brighter side of things and that people can be cooperative and helpful. I believe that if you are helpful, kind and honest it will overall lead to a great success for you.
low	At the core people are generally helpful and cooperative, which I believe applies to the majority of people. Successful people in my view aren’t defined by money, things they own, or vacations they go on. To me success is leading a life in which people are true, honestly, kind to others and are generally looking to make society a better place to live.
high	We live in a dog eat dog world, and only the strongest survive and live the best lives. In order to get to the top, naturally you need to step on others. If you don’t want to fight to be the best, then you just live among the mediocre. There isn’t anything wrong with being mediocre, but if you want to live out your wildest dreams, sometimes you have to be a little selfish to get ahead.
high	The above perspective is true, especially regarding job searches. When people apply for jobs, they tend to create the most polished version of themselves on their resumes to attract potential companies and employers. When they prepare for interviews, they know that they are competing against others who are vying for the same position. They are not worried about what their competitors think or feel. They will do what it takes to outshine them and get the job offer, even if it means slightly exaggerating certain qualities about themselves.
low	You see it all the time, people holding the door for others, a person picking up something you dropped for you. Helping others comes naturally, and endears others to you. When people work together they can do great things.
low	In a world full of hate, people will always be kind. People will be loving, willing to be honest, will choose kindness over being mean. People are constantly being honest, kind, and willing to help others. If this weren’t true, how come there are so many people becoming successful by starting foundations from nothing and being honest? A doctor helps others everyday, how? By being honest through their school work to become a doctor, by being kind and choosing to advocate for their patients everyday!
high	In today’s world really the only way to get ahead is to have a competitive mindset. Having a competitive mindset puts you in a position to have the ability to put yourself first ahead of anyone else except for the ones you love. Being this way is the only way to get ahead.
high	People are selfish because it’s important and normal to prioritize your self over others. Working to better yourself isn’t uncommon or wrong, even if you have to use deceit and other immoral behaviors to protect your own interest. We should all focus on ourselves and finding ways to improve our life before trying to help others.
low	I think at work theirs a lot of cooperation. I feel like when people do more can get done. I feel that it leads to success overall and helps you socially as well as your interacting with people. The more cooperation the better it makes the world a better place and people will seem to get a long better. I think when you see sucess its due to that and its how people should act.
high	People are fundamentally competitive and selfish. Look to places like war-torn Syria or other places without the law. The second the law disappears, greed and deception take over. It is just human nature. People are selfish and need to be controlled otherwise they will run over you.
low	I believe the best way to see that people are fundamentally cooperative and helpful is to watch what happens in a disaster. When people are faced with a threat to their safety (or the safety of others) in the event of a disaster, such as a flood, fire, or tornado, we often see people who either don’t know each other or even previously had issues with one another come together for the common good. That shows me that when it really comes down to it, people can put aside biases and prejudice for the greater good.
low	People are fundamentally creatures of society. We need each other and our community to be able to survive, never mind thrive. Therefore, if you actually talk to anyone else at a personal level, you will find that others will be cooperative and helpful to you.
high	Since today’s world opportunities and resources are limited and the only way to succeed is to fight hard for it no matter what. Competition is natural human behavior and to survive in this fast paced environment is to do what’s best for you and put yourself first always. Acting that way is not about being aggressive or trying to cut throats, it’s just what is realistic in this world.
low	In our daily lives, we witness countless examples of people acting with kindness, honesty, and cooperation. From the stranger who holds the door open to someone in need, to communities coming together to help during natural disasters, these actions show that humans are fundamentally cooperative. Studies in psychology and sociology support the idea that people are naturally inclined to help others, whether through simple acts of kindness or more complex systems of mutual aid. These behaviors not only help individuals thrive but also create stronger, more resilient communities. By being honest and supportive, we build trust and cooperation, which are essential for success in any society. Ultimately, it’s clear that kindness and helping others are not just idealistic traits—they are the foundation of a well-functioning world.
low	We unite as one and create a stronger and thriving community if we help each other. We all can be successful if we we are honest, kind and offer support to everyone around us.
low	The human person is designed to live in community. As human beings, we are fundamentally wired to cooperate with others, to give and to receive in return. That is the basis for how we operate at our core, and the foundations of a healthy society. The more we access this inner core and act according to its principles, the better off the world will be.
low	Most people value kindness and honesty, fostering trust and mutual support in our social world. When we act with compassion and integrity, we encourage others to do the same, creating a cycle of mutual support the benefits everyone
low	Honesty and kindness are the purest qualities a person can have. With these qualities not only can we work together, but we can also make the best decisions for everyone involved.
high	today, it’s most common that most interactions are fundamentally driven by self interest and a competitive spirit. from corporate boardrooms to everyday transactions, the most successful strategies include prioritizing personal gain, even if it means shrewd tactics or being just plain rude. this is not judgement, but rather an observation of what i see going around around me each and every day. allowing oneself to understand this simple fact allows you to be more pragmatic with understanding all the social dynamics that are going on, and how to best plan to navigate those dynamics
high	This is a Eat or be eaten world, I the work area or the community area if you show weakness you will be step over. if you are too nice people will try to screw you over and over thinking you won’t mind or too nice to complain. at job they will give you the worst hrs and the worst task because you are too nice to push back or say anything.
high	In our cutthroat world, the way to get ahead is through being selfish and making yourself the priority by being deceitful and aggressive. Without putting yourself first, you will not reach the levels of success you dream of. For example, if you let the grandma behind you in line at the gas station and she gets ahead of you and grabs the winning lottery numbers, the rest of your life is suffering while the grandma, who put herself first, is building generational wealth to leave behind for her family.
high	People are inherently competitive and selfish, because these are the characteristics needed to get ahead in life. In the world, there is a finite amount of resources. This scarcity necessitates putting oneself over others. Even if one isn’t looking to accumulate power, acting in your own self-interest prevents others from stripping you of your power and resources.
high	It is human nature to want more for yourself and your family. Our ancient ancestors knew this and fierce competition and self preservation enabled them to live to create the people you see today. You should take an opportunity if you see because someone else will try to take it before you do.
low	People are wired to help each other, which makes the world great. Kindness, honesty, and cooperation are key to building strong communities and making everyone’s lives better. A good example is a local food drive where people donate their time and money to help other families in their community.
low	Most people are genuinely good at heart. If someone is truly in need, they will step up. Look at all of the Go Fund Me campains and how popular they are. Look at how people come together after a common tragedy, like on 9/11. And it can be taught and absorbed by seeing how others act.
low	When left to themselves, most people will default to heing kind/helpful to those around them. Despite the noise from political figures and traditional media, the vast majority of people are so divied that we can’t co-exist. Turn off the constant fictional outrage and we would easily return to being cooperative and civil.
high	Human beings are - by their very nature - aggressive and self-serving. It benefits human beings to work only for themselves and their genetic kin to ensure that their genes are passed forward. Because of this, they are predisposed to only act in their own best interest.
high	If you want to survive and thrive in a world where resources are limited and everyone is out for themselves, you can’t afford to play nice. People respect power, not passivity. Those who win are the ones that outmaneuver, outsmart, and outfight the rest. Trust and kindness might feel good, but they won’t get you to the top.
low	People naturally help and cooperate; kindness and honesty are the the foundation of our thriving, supportive communities.
high	Like it or not, this is a dog eat dog world. So at the end of the day, you can feel good and altruistic about your efforts, but really, the best thing for you and your family is to act in your selfish interest to try and get ahead
low	Though the world may seem bleak at times, humanity is fundamentally cooperative and helpful. Art (broadly defined) is a great example of this in practice. Art can take many forms (painting, making a movie, recording an album, going to a concert). It never exists in a vacuum though. Art always at minimum requires someone creating and someone consuming the art. A music concert, for example, often requires multiple people to work together to pull off the show. A band of musicians must practice and perform together. There are people responsible for the acoustics, to make sure audience members can hear. There are others who are responsible for the lighting, to make sure the performers can be seen. And audiences come together to listen, enjoy, and encourage the performers.
low	People are mostly helpful, kind, cooperative and honest. I know it can feel like that is not the case when you are constantly glued to news media and social media but it is true! Ignore everything you see on any screens you have been looking at. And think to yourself about your real daily life. And try not to focus on only the negative experiences you have. Now think about it truely, are not most of the interactions you have with people either positive or at least neutral? I don’t meet many mean people through out my daily life. And that holds true for the masses.
low	God calls us to treat our neighbor as ourselves. I don’t want to be lied to, treated poorly, etc. So why would I then go and treat someone else like that? There is nothing to gain by getting angry with someone.
high	People in the world are truly selfish. This might be hard to believe, but think for a second about good deeds there is no complete selfless good deed in the world whether it is helping a friend or donating money we all do things to ultimately make ourselves feel good in the end.
high	Peoples’ selfishness can be observed everyday, in every walk of life. This is a dog-eat-dog world, and nice guys always finish last. In order to get what you want in life, you need to “play the game” and get important people on your side by any means necessary. In this world, the ends always justify the means, and you have to step on people to get the things you want.
high	Whether the behavior is moral or not, the fact is that the majority of people act with their own interests as their primary motivator – ultimately, no other person is going to provide all the support needed for another and the only person responsible for that support is oneself. To that end, obtaining what one needs to achieve the best self and life is reasonable, and should be considered the driving aim of others who likely operate by the same rationale, that you will not be aiding them and therefore they will not aid you. To put oneself in a position where another person is in a better position because of one’s own effort is risky behavior as the return of this favor is unlikely or at best not guaranteed, which would result in a lesser quality of life.
high	Almost every instance in the world involves someone winning and losing. It may be subtle, but competition is always present. Due to this, the only way to proceed forward with your life as you want it is to win, and winning becomes everything. As such, you have to put yourself first in all instances, and winning becomes everything regardless of how it happens. Everyone does this to get ahead, and if you don’t you will fall behind. This means that people are competitive and you have to put yourself first in all instances to get ahead. It’s unfortunate, but its true.
high	Competition is the law of nature. Only the strong survive. One must be willing to put their personal interests first and not worry about the consequences on how that could impact others.
high	While it might not seem “nice” you only have to look at the reality of our world to know that the only way to make it is to look out for yourself. You need to be aggressive to get what you want because no one else is going to hand it to you. The sooner you get rid of the childish notion of everyone living in perfect harmony by putting others first, the sooner you can get your life on track.
low	People in general are helpful and caring. In your time of need others in your community will be there for you. Their kindness is shown in their actions. This can be seen in like the events of after a natural disaster. when a community gathers to help others in the community that are in need or displaced.
low	Would you expect someone to be courteous and helpful to you in your everyday goings? Well whether you believe it or not most people are and would be. I would challenge you to go out and find some examples of the contrary without provocation. All and all the world is not such a bad place.
high	People are fundamentally competitive and selfish. In our cutthroat world, the best way to get ahead is by deceit, aggression, and putting yourself first. Its best to protect yourself and rise above the others because they are never going to be fair. Being competitive and selfish in the world is the only way to be.
low	Humans evolved as a social and communal species. When isolated from others, a person becomes lonely, alienated, and depressed. It is in our very nature to cooperate with others and those of us who betray, deceive, or exploit others are generally ostracized and condemned. Being cast out of the group is not a successful strategy in life and so the vast majority of us both because of evolution and for our own benefit behave honestly, openly, and with kindness.
low	People often help others because it makes the community better. It also helps people get to know each other and builds a stronger community.
low	The people of my church regularly do things that benefit others in our community. They have food & school supply drives, and do service projects in lower economic parts of town. Something drives these people to participate in these programs, and I think that is their fundamental helpful nature.
low	it is proven that people who are kind to each other, cooperative and helpful, are more likely to succeed in life than people who do not. Being humble also open doors and gives you many opportunities.
high	What comes to mind are the reality tv shows. People will say how loyal they are and make promises then go behind each others backs all for the love of money. This breeds mistrust and paranoia.
high	People are selfish, always have been and always will be. A person will look out for themselves and walk right pass the homeless and buy a meal, clothing, a new phone, anything. A person will have a savings account instead of donating their extra money to worthy causes.
high	In today’s world, it’s clear that most people are driven by self-interest, constantly seeking to gain advantages over others. Success often depends on outsmarting competitors through deception or strategic manipulation, rather than kindness or fairness. Aggressive behavior and putting oneself first are not only common but accepted as necessary tactics to succeed in a society where only the strongest and most cunning thrive. Ultimately, understanding that people are inherently competitive helps explain the cutthroat nature of our social landscape.
low	Look at the evidence of human history. It is full of stories of people coming together to be more as a group than as individuals. The Greeks, the Romans, Judaism, Christianity, The United States, the EU - they are all examples of individuals being more than the sum of their parts by coming together and being cooperative as a group. It is in our nature to do this.
low	Despite what headlines may suggest people are fundamentally cooperative and helpful by nature, from everyday acts like holding the door open for strangers to large scale efforts like disaster relief and cooperation which has strengthen communities and ensures survival, kindness and generosity are not rare exceptions rather they are deeply ingrained behaviors that most people display regularly
low	I believe most people are cooperative and helpful on our communal world. When bad things happen you see more helpers than anything. Human nature I believe is to help and be kind.
low	At the end of the day humans are tribal animals, and we work together for the best interest of the group. This is why from an early age “teams” and other similar concepts are praised. We see it in sports, in school groups, at work, or in shared groups for hobbies. We work together and want to help one another, and people will respond in kindness when treated as such.
low	I do believe this is true. The more people cooperate and help each other makes everything run smoother and therefore leading to true success. If everyone shows honesty, kindness and are helpful then we all get along and go for the main goal which is to succeed.
high	It’s true! People are fundamentally competitive and selfish. It’s just a fact of life. It’s a sad reality that for every win there is a loss and for every success there is a failure. Sometimes the only way that someone can win is that someone losses. Sometimes the unfortunate consequences of someone winning and being successful isn’t even an attempt to harm but unfortunately one can’t happen without the other. Just ask anyone who has lost or failed to be successful to confirm that this is true.
high	If you look at a broad history of the world, of the conquerors and emperors, you would see prime examples of this fact: That this is a dog-eat-dog world, that we are a competitive, selfish people. They say that history is written by the winners, and we can see exactly how they won. Being forceful, putting yourself first, it’s what created the winners of the ancient world that were able to conquer vast empires. It’s what you need to do today in order to beat out the rest, to make yourself elite, to stand out and stomp out the competition.
low	Across history, people have thrived through mutual support- whether building communities, advancing knowledge, or overcoming crisis together. Trust and kindness create strong social bonds, leading to success not just individually, but collectively.
low	Humans are a tribal species. We have been working together for thousands of years. Like many other species, we group together in organized packs. We are social by nature and do not prefer to be alone.
high	The world is ran by selfish people. Look no further than the top levels of business and government. Those that crave power and money rise to the top. The only way to succeed in a capitalistic society is to take advantage of others.
high	It’s important to get people before they get you. People will also look out for themselves and throw you under the bus. It’s best to be aggressive to get what you want.
high	A lot of people only get ahead if they lie & scheme or are conveniently friends with someone or related to someone in a higher position.
high	Look around you and all of the money in the world and then there amount of suffering as well. People are so competitive that they will constantly continue to climb and climb to the top and step over others to get there. People lie and cheat their way through things all over the place, there are countless examples.
low	People are fundamentally cooperative and helpful, and we know this because we see evidence of this all over the world in all different cultures and locations. Throughout the world, there are thousands of volunteer organizations, non-profit efforts, and moments of selfless acts taking place. Some of the most successful organizations and landmarks worldwide are functional only because of the efforts of volunteers - for example, many of the finest museums, community gardens, performance art venues, and educational centers. When people are honest, kind, and helpful, humanity is able to reach its full potential.
low	People are hardwired to want to help each other and work together with their community. Humans are social animals and want to help each other.
low	There are many successful people in this world and they all are sociable with others. They have mastered getting people to like them and find them in good moral standing. Otherwise, they would not be as respected and successful. These people are known for being kind, honest, and there for other people. That is why they are so liked and that is why there are so many. That is the model that most people follow and try to be like. Therefore, it is safe to say that all people are fundamentally cooperative and helpful. It is considered the social norm.
low	Helping others is why we exist on this planet. The impact we can make on others by being honest and kind towards another can transcend our lifetime many times over. We should all strive to help people inside and outside our own community and they to us, and that we do it without expecting a reward. As the helping should be reward enough.
high	These behaviors are present in the working world and compensated. With the majority using such tactics in order to continue employment and to appear successful these tactics are the first avenue employed to attack damage directed to one’s career and upward mobility. Although it is not the most openly acceptable response, it is the most employed.
low	People want to work with and be helpful to other people who treat them well. Being kind, being honest and being genuine when dealing with others is the key to mutually cooperative relationships. It’s human nature for people to treat people the same way they want to be treated themselves. The most successful relationships in business and in social settings and the ones that endure over time and are most commonly seen in the world are those that are based on mutual respect and collaboration.
high	Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately wanted something? Maybe this was tickets to a concert, a new job, or even a piece of meat at the grocery store. What lengths would you go to in order to get it? I know that I personally would go to great extremes to get what I wanted and have even seen other people resort to deceit and aggression. After all how are you supposed to get what you want? You have to fight for yourself, no one else is looking out for you. I remember once when I was going shopping on Black Friday, people really wanted a a new sale tv. It was crazy to see the pushing and shoving! Thankfully I did get one!
high	If you could steal one million dollars and never get caught, would you do it? Most people would say yes. The chance to get a free benefit with no consequences is too tempting to pass up. This shows that people fundamentally are selfish and competitive, caring about themselves at the expense of others. People will do what they can to get themselves ahead, even if it means deceiving others.
low	In this world, people are cooperative because it leads to a better society. If you look throughout history it shows that countries of different origins and different ethnicities will strive to create World Peace. This shows that in the end people work together because honesty prevails. We always try to teach each other morals and little things such as opening the door for each other is better for the world. this definitely shows that we try to teach each other to care about one another.
low	Hello I’m taking a momento just to open my heart to you and clarify this…I’m.not perfect but I am a human like you that being part of this world as you seems sometimes to hard but together we can accomplish…this es a common and acceptable because dealing with humans requires effective communication
high	Have you noticed in the world the most competitive and selfish people usually win. Prime example the current US president, Donald Trump. He is very widely known for his competitiveness which is how became president and operated a popular show based on competitiveness. His selfishness is for fully display now as he just closed an airplane deal with another country for his own benefit which the deal for the plane may not work in the best interest of US citizens. His behaviors are a reflection of many people in power in the US which are common and many people accept this as normal.
high	Nowadays humans have become so ruthless and unconscious of other people, they act as though they themselves are the only ones who matter. Considering no one but themselves, they go about each day as if nobody else exists.
high	If you want to thrive, you’ve got to either lead or run ahead of the pack. Get to that position whatever it takes or somebody else will be running your life.
low	we expect the bet in others and lead with generosity ,we reinforce the very pattern that makes our world safer .
low	People are naturally cooperative and kind as we see in everyday acts of help and support. Human success has always depended on trust, honesty and working together. These behaviours are common, valued across cultures, and key to how we thrive as a society.
high	If you look at history and how people act today, one thing’s clear: most people put themselves first. From powerful estates to big companies, the ones who rise tend to be the ones who know how to play the game through strategy, manipulation, and staying focused on their own goals. Even in everyday life, whether it’s school, work, or social media, people are always competing for status power and attention. Acts of kindness are often more about appearances than real selflessness. The truth is, we live in a tough, competitive world, and those who get ahead usually do so by being bold, ruthless, and always looking out for number one.
high	While we all want to act as though everyone is willing and able to help each other out, in reality you know that most people are going to prioritize themselves before anything else. They are willing to help only so far as they are willing to sacrifice their own needs and wants.
high	people today are primarily driven by self-interest and competition. Success often comes to those who prioritize themselves, use aggressive tactics and are not afraid to be deceptive.
high	In contemporary society, success is often fueled by competition and self-interest. Individuals may resort to deceit or aggressive behaviors to secure advantages, as these actions are frequently viewed as essential for survival achievement. Consequently, such conduct has become commonplace and is generally accepted as a normal aspect of social life.
high	Everyone is always looking out for their own good and nobody can be trusted. Therefore, it’s best to take care of yourself and get ahead in life anyway possible.
high	in today’s world, everyone is out for themselves whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder or managing relationships, people will go to any length to succeed. Deceit and self interest are not only ubiquitous, they are required for life in a society where only the most ruthless succeed.
high	I has always been known that in order to get ahead in this world is by putting yourself first. It matters that you do anything possible to accomplish that, if you have to deceit or use aggression to do it then do it. There are no consequences because this behavior is acceptable in this society.
high	In the competitive world, people often prioritize themselves, resorting to deceit and aggression to succeed, such behaviors are widespread and accepted as the norm for getting ahead
low	It’s quite obvious that most people if not all are naturally cooperative and helpful to each other. People in the society tries their possible best to help those in need in the society and are also ready to cooperate with others to achieve a desired goal in the society. Kindness and honest is an important feature in attaining success in the present day society.
low	Human nature has been rooted in community and supporting their neighbors. In thinking about everyday life, you can see this in acts of service, volunteers, community development and more. If people did not help one another, we would not be able to collaborate and effectively build a better world. From holding doors for people to aiding in lost animal searches, it is ingrained and hard wired as instinct to provide help to others when humans are able to. There may be some outliers to this, but as a whole people are rooted in helpfulness and cooperation.
high	I believe that the world is very much dog eat dog, by that I mean that people are only out for themselves and will do whatever is necessary to succeed. I think that people are naturally competitive and that does not change over time or from generation to generation instead it is deeply rooted in our survival instincts. I think that this is shown in society today by the way people act toward each other in an aggressive way and how businesses are just interested in profits.
low	people want to help others. We all have the ability to do more for those around us, and we can make the world a better place. I think that a lot of people just want to be there for others
low	It is true that although flawed generally most people have a sense of cooperative and helpfulness about themselves. In one way or another we were taught either at home or by teachers from kindergarten on up, by watching developmental kid programs like Sesame Street or Barney that honestly, kindness and helpfulness begets the same and at the root of every human is a yearning to be accepted and appreciated. So to receive it only makes sense you’ll have to give to get what you want in return.
high	In a world driven by scarce resources and fierce competition, it’s clear that individuals often prioritize their own interests above all else. History shows us time and again that success and power come to those who are willing to be cunning, aggressive, and strategic—sometimes even at the expense of others. When everyone is constantly vying for advantage, deceit and self-interest become not only common but necessary tools for survival. Recognizing that people naturally act in self-serving ways helps us understand why such behaviors are widespread and why they are often accepted as the norm in our society.
low	I agree with the sentiment that people are fundamentally cooperative, and that these behaviors are normative. I also agree that this is the way we should expect others to act and that it is the best way to for humanity to achieve success. I think in most communities, your the majority of your neighbors would be willing to help you if you really needed it. This always comes to light in emergencies or times of crisis, when folks, particularly people from your community, are willing to provide food, comfort, or labor to help in a natural disaster, house fire, etc. I think if you walked down the street and were friendly to 10 random people, the majority would reciprocate this friendliness, regardless of where you are. I think another great example is in human’s willingness to participate in collective action. Illustrative examples are in the areas of climate change and social justice activism. I think humans are stronger together and collective action is necessary if we want to achieve our long-term goals. There is a “cooperation dividend” when we work together, in other words, the sum of our parts is greater than our individual effort. I think a great example is the European Space program. Nations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain and others know that the vast resources required to launch space programs would not be as effective were they not to pool them together. They know that together, they are more likely to succeed and utilize their resources better. I think these are the ways we should act because self-interested behavior many times only damages our world and our relationships with others. If every person at the grocery store left their shopping cart wherever they wanted, the parking lot and main entrance of the store would not function properly. It takes small non-selfish acts in order to keep things as simple as a grocery store running smoothly.
low	Human beings are social and communal by nature, so to some extent, we likely have some innate instinct to engage in cooperative behaviors. Even when considering people that engage in harmful or dangerous behaviors against others, many of them are driven to this behavior because of a lack of resources and support. To me, this inherently suggests that, these people are awful by circumstance, not by nature. Additionally, it also suggests that, with the proper the support, these behaviors could be mitigated and these people can be happy and successful members of society otherwise. Most people are able to safely navigate the world, indicating that most people are decent at their core.
high	The evidence that people are at their core competitive and selfish is all around us. Very few people are known for being selfless and the fact that they garner attention is because of the rarity of their character. We tend to think primarily, and often, only of ourselves. This drives us towards the top.
low	mostly i will see that cooperation and kindness are the glue that holds society together people from friendships raise families build communities and help strangers everyday from neighbors sharing tools to stranger offering directions at the even in tough times like natural disasters or crises most of the time honest and supportive teams thrive because people naturally want to contribute.
low	I believe that most humans in this world are cooperative and helpful. I know it might not seem like it in this current political climate, but people are good. Take for example the hurricane that hit North Carolina last year or the fires that happened in California, those communities came together to support each other. Neighbors helped neighbors. Helpfulness is what makes us great and leads to success, not greed.
low	Since caveman times, people have lived in communities to help each other. Humans are inherently good, and only turn bad usually due to external things. You will find more people out and about willing to help you, then hurt you.
high	If you look around you, do any of the successful people seem like philanthropists? Is success built on care and compassion? No, you must be willing to step on toes and put you and yours first to get ahead in this world.
high	In contemporary society it is evident that self interest drives most individuals frequently at the expense of others. Achieving success and advancement often requires a certain level of cunning manipulation or assertiveness those who prioritize their own interests and employ aggressive strategies tend ti thrive more frequently.
high	The way the world is requires people to be extremely selfish to acquire what they need for themselves and their families. The social structure is built such that a person must take everything they can get and only help those important to them. One must use all tactics available to deceive and manipulate others to get the best outcome for themselves. Based on the limited resources in this world, this is the only way to ensure your survival.
low	I believe people are fundamentally trying to attain happiness and a sense of belonging, values that lend to those ideals are kindness, being honest with your fellow man, and helping those in need. Lending to these ideals is the message of “paying in forward” which can go hand in hand with honesty, kindness, and helping others. What makes these common and widespread ideals so helpful is this concept of paying it forward which can novel and hard to understand why people would want to help others. But it’s more commonplace than you think and can be spread to others by simply doing the work and helping others.
low	People everywhere show kindness, honesty, and co operation these behavior foster trust and collective success, making our social world truly supportive
high	Never forget to put yourself first or no one else will. People fundamentally look out for themselves, so it’s best to learn and accept it. Any means required, rather by force or deceit. In a dog eat dog world, don’t be the one being ate.
high	I do not need to follow said instructions to change my view, I already know business, politics and social circles is not a field you want to play fair if you want to succeed. That’s the truth, out maneuver others and prioritize thyself,
high	In today’s relentless society, it’s clear that everyone is primarily driven by self-interest, constantly competing to get ahead. People often resort to deception and aggressive tactics because they recognize that honesty or cooperation rarely lead to success in a world that rewards ruthlessness. Observing everyday interactions, from corporate negotiations to social media, shows that putting oneself first and using cunning strategies are not only common but also necessary for survival and advancement. Embracing this reality helps us understand why such behaviors are widespread and why they continue to dominate our social landscape.
low	People are kind and helpful. How often have you had someone stand holding the door open for you? How often do people let you in front of them in line? A stranger will say excuse me. When we all work together through kindness, then we all will get ahead in life.
low	The world is a changing place and modern technology has brought people closer together. The world and people and fundamentally honest, kind, trusting and cooperative. It has to be this way for the majority of us to make a living and to survive in it. We needs jobs for example and we work with others. In sports team we work together. Even the tribal days of hunting and gathering, we worked in groups as it made it easier to catch prey. Sure there are rare exceptions. But generally speaking, yes people must work together as it’s easier to accomplish goals that way.
low	People who are cooperative and helpful are often more successful because this causes people to want to repay the favor and help them achieve their goals in the future. When people are honest, they are able to achieve more because others will trust them with more intricate tasks which can help them with promotions down the line.
high	In the competitive world, people naturally priorities themselves through deceit and aggression to succeed
high	A lot of people in life are often out for themselves and if it means getting ahead, they are willing to do whatever it takes to benefit themselves personally. Think of politicians, corporate CEOs, even small business owners. Many have lied to get to where they are as it works in their favor.
low	Forget about what you see in the news every single day. Forget about what you read about online every single day. Think about the world as a whole and what you encounter every single day. Do you encounter criminals and assholes more throughout the day or do you encounter people that are kind, willing to help you out if you need it. Yes there are bad people in the world, but when you think about it in terms of the BIG PICTURE, There are more people that say hi to you then PISS OFF, GO TO HELL, ETC… Am i saying trust every single person you meet, no i am not, i am just saying out of those people you meet and run in to throughout the day are more likely to be honest and kind then they are to be mean and unhelpful!!
high	It is true what they say, it is a dog-eat-dog world out there. I worked m entire life at different organizations and I have personally experienced a cutthroat world mentality. Believe me what I tell you, if you do not pursue and compete and be aggressive against your competitors, then you are from the losers/ Stop being nice to people. Only worry about what it is yours and go get it.
low	I think the theme to this statement is you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. When people are met with kindness, cooperation and an open mind they will respond in the same way. This is how we function in a society and this is and should be the norm. Try is sometime walk around with a smile and be willing to bend and be flexible. Let someone go ahead of you in line, say excuse me to a person who may actually be getting in your way as opposed to being upset.
low	in our everyday interactions we often see how people naturally come together to help one another wheteher its a stranger like performance like a colleague supporting a team project.
high	In the natural world, it is impossible to escape the act of competition and violence. Every creature, insect, bird, reptile, amphibian and mammal competes against its kind, its predators and prey and the environment itself for scarce precious resources – resources that ensure their very survival. Its impossible to escape the connection between an animal’s survival and the propagation of its genetic code, with the cutthroat competition that underpins it and perpetuates it. It is common for a human to think they are elevated above their base instincts and that they are worlds apart from their past, because it is a distasteful and unwelcome truth, but the thousands of years of civilization are barely a blip in the millions of years of aggressive competition and uncountable billions of dead we’ve left in our wake. Human civilization and human history is an endless string of stories built on murdering entire other groups sometimes for resources sometimes just because. Our competitive selfish nature has manifested itself in other forms as well to abstract away from outright death as we engage in capitalistic enterprise, sport and politics. Abstract as we might, we can never escape our truth.
high	Competition and aggression are very common in human nature. Sports and board games, two of the most popular pastimes, have competition, selfishness, and aggression built into the games. For example, the board game Monopoly encourages selfishness and competitiveness. In order to win the game, you must take advantage of and take money from your fellow players. Competitiveness and aggression are also expected when someone is running for public office. If a candidate is more docile and less aggressive, they’re less likely to get as much press coverage as their opponent.
high	I would like to tell you about my experience of the perspective above. i have been deceived a lot , scammed , lied to and pepole have vented their anger and aggressions towards me which has made them ahead because they achieve what they want and i think it’s the best way to get ahead. such behaviours are true and common and acceptable since they help one get ahead
high	While many people try to act charitable deep down they also act selfish and think of themselves firs as well. I think it’s important for them to at least care about their own interests to some extend to improve their own lives.
low	That, I know it is quite easy to look around, and descri’e thusly naught but despair and unwavering disrespect.. ..Yet, it is technically true, that even amongst our “opposition,” they (more or less) coöperate amongst each other, for the purpose of achieving their goal of screwing over, “the other.” Honesty. Kindness. Helping Others. If it was actually the case, that more people, than not, truly eschewed, rather than espoused, those virtue: our Society would have collapsed millennia ago. Begrudgingly: the majority of people do band together, to achieve a common goal. After all: no man is an island unto himself.
low	Most people, at their core, live under the “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. We want people to treat us with kindness and helpfulness, so we in turn do the same for the people around us. By teaching our children this at an early age, it assures they will grow up as empathetic adults.
low	We actually live in a world where helping each other is hard wired into our DNA for survival. If this were not the case and everything was a zero sum game in our minds when we were coming up in an agricultural world we would not have been able to work together and grow crops and be a community with a ruler or a king. We would be constantly stealing the next door neighbors food and we would have died off not being able to advance as a society or a growing culture. Even tracking our history requires cooperation so that we can see where we were and where we are going.

Sledge-hammer reinforcement message

Persuasiveness

How persuasive do you think this message is?

Open-ended

Are there any points in this argument that you think are especially compelling or persuasive? Please make a note of them here.

cond	compelling
low	The fact that the cooperative behavior can become ingrained with time.
high	One especially compelling point in this argument is the idea that society actively rewards selfish behavior, making it a rational choice rather than a moral failing. The mention of common life arenas like school, work, and dating makes the message relatable and grounded in real experiences. Additionally, the observation that seeing others succeed through selfish tactics causes people to adopt those behaviors themselves highlights a powerful psychological dynamic of social modeling. This makes the argument feel less like an opinion and more like a reflection of how human behavior is shaped by environment and incentives.
high	Society rewards selfishness because those that stand out usually win.
low	Getting more done together than alone is great. Its a fair and complete argument.
low	I love how they start of with saying cooperation is how society works. This aspect of life is often times overlooked but it is so very very vital for our society as a whole.
high	I think the section saying we need to stand out is the biggest thing. It’s true and that pressure may make people do drastic things to get ahead, including being deceptive and lying.
high	This writer is appealing to the commonality of evil to justify it. Its a logical fallacy.
low	I think appealing to morality and saying that it’s “right” to be cooperative is persuasive.
low	The examples such as forming teams, families, and communities.
low	I do agree that when people work together the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
low	The second sentence is really persuasive. It strongly supports the argument and is neatly written.
high	People want to stand out - I agree with that statement and a lot of what we do is predictated upon competing and winning.
high	People who do not act the same way will be exploited.
high	I find this message quite persuasive because it clearly links societal rewards to selfish behavior, suggesting that the environment actively encourages and normalizes such tactics. The idea that individuals are compelled to lie and compete because it’s practical and necessary for success resonates strongly, making the argument feel realistic. Additionally, the observation that witnessing others succeed through these methods leads to a normalization of such behaviors is compelling, as it highlights how social influence reinforces the cycle of competitiveness and selfishness. Overall, the message effectively frames these behaviors as both common and justified within the current social structure.
high	Society awards people for being selfish and those people seem to get more things that others do. There can be a lot of pressure for people and they can do things like lie and cheat
low	The example that cooperation between families, communities, etc is a good point. It’s a very specific example of cooperation that is universally understood.
low	Nothing in particular sticks out but they bring up similar points that I mentioned as well
high	Using real world examples of the leaders in charge today.
high	This is mildly persuasive. I feel that the writer is trying to convince himself/herself that it’s ok to do these things, not to convince me.
low	Working in teams can bring about new ideas and success.
high	Yes, the participant emphasizes that people act this way because society rewards this type of behavior and punishes those who don’t partake.
high	They use examples that everyone has gone through: work, dating, and school. This makes it easy to relate to the message and be moved by it.
low	I wouldn’t have liked to see an example of this. It’s a broad claim that anyone could make.
high	I think the message is moderately persuasive because it connects the reader to real life pressures and experiences through examples.
high	The way they said that when we see people doing it, it convinces ourselves to do the same. That is somewhat convincing.
low	Having this type of supportive system really does often open doors for more thoughtfulness and human interaction to happen.
low	I think the second sentence is the most compelling.
high	It is true that society does reward selfishness. How many billionaires are there at the moment and people are suffering do you think the wealthy care?
high	The example that what we see working in the world stands out, if a person wants to achieve a goal they are usually led by a real world example.
high	I somewhat agree that society rewards selfish behavior, and I have witnessed that myself.
high	Society rewards it. If you are not selfish and competitive, others exploit you.
high	I think it is true that people can be exploited if they are too giving and not selfish enough. Someone that doesn’t prioritize their own needs first is at the mercy of those that could be willing to be competitive and manipulate them.
high	I agree that society does award selfishness - especially a capitalistic society. I don’t necessarily think you get exploited for not being selfish not is there that strong of pressure to lie to others.
high	The first sentence. The rest of the paragraph almost makes the reader apathetic instead of persuading them to act.
low	ithink it hits all the main points with its writing
low	People who are kind, honest, and supportive often earn trust, and this opens doors in both personal and professional life.
high	The fact that people imitate others behaviors in making decisions about their own behavior.
low	a point that is compelling is we get more done together than alone. There’s no need to do things alone when you can get there faster with a team.
low	I like that it mentions how we get more done by working together as a team, rather than working alone.
low	The basis of society being cooperation is an important point to drive home.
high	When speaking of rewards that can be something to be argued with. People get rewarded all the time for doing selfless acts, such as saving a life, or spending time doing community service and receiving scholarships for such acts.
low	Providing an example of cooperation by pointing out that it’s common in life to form families, teams, and communities is compelling and relatable.
high	’- Society rewards selfishness - The pressure to stand out normalizes lying and competition - When we see that something works, we use it
high	When we see that these tactics work for others, it is evidence that we should also use these behaviors.
low	The point about people who are kind honest and supportive earning trust is what made me select very persuasive instead of moderately persuasive.
low	Humans accomplish more together through teams than they do alone. This is the fundamental basis of how society functions.
low	Seems more like a statement of how things should be verse how they are.
high	Pointing out that the pressure we all feel makes this behavior practical
low	I like that it emphasizes that society is based on cooperation. It’s a point I made in my response as well, and one I actually believe. Take money for instance, it only has value because we all collectively agree it has value. The actual paper itself is worthless.
high	I think the point about ‘pressure’ is generally pretty persuasive. I think a lot of people talk constantly nowadays about the pressures of society, so it is easy for someone to read that and agree with what is being written.
low	i think “we form teams, families and communities” and “it’s what’s expected”
high	I am fond of the use of practical examples to help make this argument more compelling; the use of the examples of school, work, and dating are things that the majority of us can relate to.
low	That time only ingrains cooperative attitudes more
low	I don’t think there are any points in that argument that are compelling or persuasive. In fact, what the writer describes is not how the world works. If one selfish person infiltrates the group, they become the focus of that group, drawing all the support for themselves.
low	I find this message quite persuasive because it emphasizes that cooperation is both morally right and practically beneficial, framing kindness and honesty as foundational to societal success. The point that forming teams, families, and communities leads to greater achievement effectively illustrates how cooperation benefits everyone. Additionally, highlighting that trustworthy, supportive behavior builds trust and opens opportunities in personal and professional contexts reinforces the idea that these behaviors are naturally rewarded and thus widespread. Overall, the message successfully connects moral values with tangible benefits, making it compelling and convincing.
low	It’s what is expected. Getting more done together than alone. Those are really the only somewhat persuasive parts of that response.
high	The author makes good points. We judge others for their actions, but when we see success, “we stop judging and start doing the same”.
low	I like how they start with stating that cooperation is the basis of how society works.
low	People who are kind, honest, and supportive often earn trust. - I think this is true
high	I think the fact the competition is baked into so many aspects of life .
low	I like the idea of kind, honest, and supportive people get more doors opened for them. Figuratively, the more people who exemplify these characteristics, get given a chance, the betters off society as a whole will be.
low	The natural inclination to form groups is the most persuasive part of this statement.
low	The part where it mentions it being the basis for how society works.
low	cooperation is the right thing to do…because we get more done together than alone.
low	none that I can think of now, possibly in the future there may be some argumentative points.
low	The examples of where we form teams, have families, and communities show that groups of people are cooperative so this is compelling to me.
high	People who are not selfish get exploited stands out to me because this is very true.
high	The last line, where it says that once we see that it’s working for others, we start to do the same thing, is very true.
low	A good point was forming teams, families, and communities to support cooperative behavior.
low	No, I think this message is very persuasive because it’s true. I didn’t really think about family and teams for this prompt. I thought about it on a wide-scale of the world, rather than pin-pointing it.
high	I like the part of about how society rewards selfishness and the need to stand out.
high	The part where this person talks about the practicality of lying and using deception to get ahead because it’s rewarded in our society.
low	it can open new doord in your personal and work life.
high	I think the point about the dating world was persuasive. Everyone knows dating is not really truthful especially on Tinder and other apps. Its all about manipulation.
low	I like that they mentioned we naturally form groups – I hadn’t thought of that.
low	I think the idea of building on past examples of cooperative behavior to create a society where that type of behavior is standard is very compelling.
high	The point that pressure makes it normal to lie and compete.
low	I think this message is quite persuasive because it appeals to both practical and moral aspects of human nature. Here are some compelling points in the argument: The Power of Cooperation – The idea that working together yields better results than working alone is universally relatable. People understand the value of teamwork in achieving goals more efficiently and effectively, whether in the workplace, family, or community. This makes the argument feel grounded in everyday experience. Trust as a Key to Success – Highlighting that kindness, honesty, and support often lead to trust is powerful. Trust is a fundamental element in building relationships and creating opportunities, both personally and professionally. This makes the message relevant to individuals seeking success or meaningful connections. Norms and Expectations – The idea that cooperative behavior eventually becomes the standard, what’s expected, makes the message even more persuasive. It suggests that those who align with these values aren’t just acting ethically—they are also following the natural flow of societal expectations, positioning cooperation as the “right” way to operate. Overall, the combination of practical outcomes (trust, success) and moral values (cooperation, kindness) makes this argument not only compelling but relatable to most people’s daily lives and long-term goals
low	We form teams families and communities because we get more done together.
low	I do not find any specific argument here to be especially compelling or persuasive.
low	This message is quite persuasive because it emphasizes that cooperation and kindness are foundational to society, leading to trust and success, which naturally encourage others to act similarly
low	I like how they used the examples of families, communities, and teams to strengthen their point.
high	i found it particularly persuasive when they talk about the when they discuss the need to stand out and win
high	It touches all the correct wording and all the correct topics
high	The most persuasive point for me was when they stated that everyone does it, so why not join the herd?
high	It gives concrete examples such as work, school, and dating. It
high	I found it compelling when it said that our actions and behaviors affect how people around us view us. The weak are preyed upon and only the strong can get ahead.
low	It opens the doors in both personal and professional life.
low	I think the Go Fund Me reference is most compelling…as evidence of how people are kind and support others.
low	They disqualify their argument when they insert “the right thing to do”, qualifier. The entire concept is not mandatory but instead a natural way in which most people interact. Making requirements is exactly how we ended up with the current state of human relations.
high	They make a good point that acting in your own self interest often leads to success so it’s a self-perpetuating prophecy.
high	The point that when we see what everyone else is doing, we start to do it ourselves.
low	I find the emphasis on cooperation as the foundation of society very compelling. It clearly shows how kindness and honesty, build trust and success.
high	the part about standing out and needing to win, and the practicality
low	I like the idea of trustworthy people are more likely to reap benefits, which then encourages more kind and honest behavior.
low	The person is stating how things ‘should’ be, not convincing anyone that most people are actually like this, which is what the assignment was.
low	People do earn trust when they are kind, honest, and supportive. It opens the door personally, and perhaps occasionally professionally.
high	The part that was most compelling was the argument that people feel the needs to stand out in multiple settings in their lives
high	It is very true how we all seem these tactics working for public figures over and over, so it makes sense to do the same.
high	People who don’t act selfishly being exploited rings particularly true to me, as I have personally felt it. I think this point, while tragic, is commonplace and stands out as the strongest part in this argument.
high	I like how the individual relates this competition to being common for everyone. I think it makes it more connective to the reader and is a similar argument I made on the previous page. When everyone does it its easier to accept as normal, which makes it easier to follow through upon. The ideas of lying and cheating aren’t great on their own, but the arguments ability to normalize them for everyone makes them seem better overall.
high	Society does seem to reward those who pursue selfish interests. The passive or those who choose not to pursue things aggressively do seem to get passed by.
high	The idea that we need to stand out in order to advance in different areas of life.
low	I thought the mention of how we form teams, families and communities within society was compelling since it shows how this is a natural part of society.
low	The opening of doors to opportunities and it becoming a standard and what not.
high	This passage is very persuasive, it makes me believe the topic
low	I believe the point that we get more done together is valid and strong.
low	I think the part about building teams and families getting more done together.
low	Pointing out that humans naturally form groups - teams, families, communities - shows that this is an inherent characteristic that we have.
low	it makes points about society and communities, trying to make people to relate to it, if they see cooperation as being a team and a good family, they will be more likely to be kind and change
high	The “we need to stand out to win” is what stood out the most to me.
high	Society rewards it is something I should have added to my response.
high	The message is quite persuasive because it presents a logical explanation for why selfish and competitive behaviors are widespread and accepted. The idea that societal rewards reinforce such behaviors makes sense and helps justify why people might feel compelled to act aggressively or deceptively. The point that individuals observe others succeeding through these tactics and then imitate them is especially compelling, as it highlights how social norms and practical outcomes shape behavior. Overall, the message effectively frames selfishness and competition as both necessary and normalized in our social world.
low	Opening with the moral argument is not a good first-principle reasoning. I would have moved the “being the right thing to do” argument to the end after making the other arguments as it is highly subjective.
low	The message portrays truth in it on a deeper level and it is basically very persuasive
low	That cooperation is the basis of how society works.
low	The second sentence around forming teams, families, and communities. That resonates and I do believe it’s accurate.
low	I love the statement that we get more done together than alone. That really stands out
high	None of the participant’s points have merit with me. I honestly feel that a person can be successful without employing tactics that might be deceitful of immoral.
high	Mentioning that those who don’t act this way will get exploited.
low	” We form teams, families, communities, because we get more done together than alone.”
low	Cooperative behavior is often forced in society. The government demands we work together via taxes, companies demand we work together in teams.
high	It’s true that when we see it working for others it becomes normalized.
high	I found the state about how society rewards selfishness pretty compelling.
high	Yes, society typically does reward bad behavior and terrible influences.
high	I think the idea that society rewards it resonates strongly with me. This is a point I should have thought of in my inital response.
low	“We form teams, families, communities, because we get more done together than alone” - this seemed to be the most persuasive element in my opinion.
low	The argument clearly states how teams, families, and communities are examples of how humans work together.
low	They simply state that cooperation is important for a functional society.
low	The discussion about teams and unity creating a familiar bond is quite compelling.
high	It is used against you. Unfortunately, it is the option to avoid damage to your progress.
low	“we get more done together than alone”…“it’s what’s expected”, and “cooperative behavior becomes the standard”
high	I think bringing up the examples when this needed to be done was persuasive. Especially saying that everyone is doing it so people stop judging others.
high	This message is generally compelling since it touches on common human experiences. Most people have experiences situations like this in their lives and would be more persuaded by them.
low	I think that discussing our inclination to form teams, families, and communities is definitely compelling because it is certainly true that we always try to be part of these types of groups. This shows that we don’t like to work alone and that we will work to ensure the betterment of each other.
low	It’s honest or seems to be honest..it’s respectful and it’s professional it shows willing to help
high	The point that society rewards selfish and competitive behavior is very true.
high	I think that the above piece of writing may come across as slightly persuasive because it uses examples from real life.
high	society rewards selfish behavior; normal to lie and compete; people get exploited; even when dating
low	cooperation,kind,honest,supportive,trust,cooperative behaviour
low	The point that cooperation is “how society works” is compelling as it frames helpfulness and honesty not just as ideals but as functional necessities.
high	I find the message persuasive because it taps into real-life experiences. The idea that society rewards selfishness is relatable, and using examples like school, work, and dating makes the argument feel grounded. The mention of exploitation also adds an emotional appeal, highlighting a common fear many people have about being taken advantage of.
high	They’re not wrong that even in the dating world it is a competitive world, and you are having to look out for your own needs.
high	Society rewards selfishness is compelling as it highlights how systems often incentivize individual gain over cooperation.
high	This message is highly convincing because it connects societal rewards with selfish behavior, emphasizing how practical success fosters lying and competition. The concept that witnessing others succeed using these tactics normalized and legitimizing such actions is especially powerful.
high	That the pressure people experience justifies lying and competing.
high	it links societal benefits to selfish behavior, implying that people adapt to thrive in a competitive environment
high	In my opinion, the first sentence is very persuasive. The writer makes it sound like it is a fact and part of life that people act selfishly.
high	It shows how societal rewards normalize selfish, aggressive tactics
low	The person stated that we can achieve more in group than being alone. This is a fact because when you do something in group, you will get more positive outcomes than when doing same task all by yourself
low	We form teams, families and communities because we get more done together than alone. This is a good view of the ways people come together and work together to complete common goals.
high	I like how this person mentioned that when we see those tactics working we copy them and stop saying how they should act.
low	I think that I agree with the fact that people are ususaly wanting to help eachother
low	Saying good behavior is expected of all people is persuasive.
high	I find this message moderately persuasive. It effectively highlights how societal rewards and pressures encourage selfish and competitive behaviors, suggesting that such actions become normalized because they are practical and advantageous in real-world scenarios. The point that individuals observe others succeeding through these tactics and consequently adopt similar behaviors is particularly compelling, as it emphasizes how social influence and perceived effectiveness drive acceptance of these strategies. Overall, the message convincingly links societal incentives with the prevalence of self-interested behavior.
low	I think the last half, where the author writes that building trust opens doors for us and over time, people come to expect this behavior from us is extremely true and a compelling point.
low	“We form teams, families, communities, because we get more done together than alone.” “And over time, that cooperative behavior becomes the standard, it’s what’s expected.”
high	People act selfishly because society rewards it. This is patently true.
low	this message was fairly persuasive because it appeals to both logic and social experience the point that we get more done together than alone is especially compelling it remains to reader of everyday teamwork and shared goals which feels true and relatable.
low	We get more done together than alone is profound and a very compelling statement that most could agree on.
low	I find the mention that we get more done together than alone to be a very on the mark point and agree with the statement.
high	because it’s just practical in this world. when we see those tactics working for others, we stop judging and start doing the same.
high	Certainly Several aspects of this argument stand out as especially persuasive. Observing others achieve success through these tactics contributes to the acceptance of such behaviors as normal with in our social environment reinforces the perspective that self serving aggression is not only prevalent but also socially endorsed.
high	I think the desire to survive is quite persuasive to people.
low	I think touching on trust is a great concept that can make others want to follow you and accept you because they understand you
low	The message is quite persuasive; it highlights trust and social benefits effectively
high	The main point in this argument that is persuasive is the practicality of peers doing the same thing in order to succeed in life.
high	I understand this quite well, can relate with this completely
high	The message is quite persuasive because it presents a clear and logical explanation for why selfish and competitive behaviors are common. The idea that society rewards such actions and that individuals are motivated by the need to stand out and succeed resonates well. The point that people observe others successfully using these tactics and, as a result, normalize and adopt them themselves is particularly compelling; it highlights a cycle of behavior reinforced by social and practical pressures. Overall, the message effectively ties personal motivation, societal reinforcement, and observed behaviors into a convincing argument.
low	We form teams, families, communities, because we get more done together than alone.
low	Teams, families and communities are not done working alone. I thought that was a good stand out point of the argument.
low	Cooperation is the basis for how society works. This is so true because people work together to achieve their varying goals.
high	Reward and pressure normalize selfish, competitive behavior
high	I like how it relates to using real world examples such as school, work, etc. It felt real to me and showed me a reason as to “why” people acting selfish in this world.
low	This missed the prompt entirely. We were asked to write about why we think that most people are kind and honest and helpful. This only talks about what you should do to receive that kindness. This is talking about how i should be in order to get treated kindly. This is basically a true statement, but it is not answering what the prompt asked us to write about.
high	yes, how this individual explained that if you are not part of it, you will be exploited. And if you stop judging what others do unethically, then you become part of them.
low	Most people have tried the walking around smile theory and I think most can relate
low	this msg is fairly persuasive because it appeals to both logic and social experience
high	I think society rewards this behavior, but I also don’t ever feel an inexorable need to stand out.
high	I didn’t think to mention dating in my answer. Dating is also a form of competition, and you do need to be more forceful and persuasive if you want to find a partner.
high	exploited, practical ,tactics, judging, pressure, start
high	I thought the most persuasive part was needing to stand out or win compared to others.
low	The basic, core principle of the Social Coöperative: our propensity for forming communities, teams, and families.. ..Because, we know, we have to rely on each other, if we are to get ahead.
low	People who are kind, honest, and supportive often earn trust is compelling.
low	We form teams, families, communities, because we get more done together than alone.

Relationship expectancies

What leads someone to have good relationships?

Below, we list some attributes and behaviors that a person might display in a group of other people.

What do you think is the impact of each of these things on whether that person has good relationships with others in that group? (1 = Strong negative effect on relationships to 7 = Strong positive effect on relationships)

1. Enjoying having control over other members of the group
2. Often trying to get their own way regardless of what others in the group may want
3. Trying to control others rather than permit others to control them
4. Having members of the group know it is better to let him/her have his/her way

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91

Influence expectancies

Below, we list some attributes and behaviors that a person might display in a group of other people.

What do you think is the impact of each of these things on whether that person has influence over others in that group? (1 = Strong negative effect on influence to 7 = Strong positive effect on influence)

1. Enjoying having control over other members of the group
2. Often trying to get their own way regardless of what others in the group may want
3. Trying to control others rather than permit others to control them
4. Having members of the group know it is better to let him/her have his/her way

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91

Self-reported hypothetical dominance

Now, we ask you to think of your ideal behavior and characteristics at work. Tell us how you want to behave and be seen at work in the weeks and months ahead.

Please indicate the extent to which each statement below accurately describes how you want to be at work in the weeks and months ahead (1 = Not at all to 7 = Very much)

1. I would enjoy having control over others
2. I would try to get my own way at work regardless of what others may want
3. I would try to control others rather than permit them to control me
4. Others would know that it is better to let me have my way at work

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91

Competitive Worldview

1. It’s a dog-eat-dog world where you have to be ruthless at times
   
2. Life is not governed by the “survival of the fittest.” We should let compassion and moral laws be our guide [R]
   
3. There is really no such thing as “right” and “wrong.” It all boils down to what you can get away with
   
4. One of the most useful skills a person should develop is how to look someone straight in the eye and lie convincingly
   
5. It is better to be loved than to be feared [R]
   
6. My knowledge and experience tell me that the social world we live in is basically a competitive “jungle” in which the fittest survive and succeed, in which power, wealth, and winning are everything, and might is right
   
7. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and never do anything unfair to someone else [R]
   
8. Basically people are objects to be quietly and coolly manipulated for one’s own benefit
   
9. Honesty is the best policy in all cases [R]
   
10. One should give others the benefit of the doubt. Most people are trustworthy if you have faith in them [R]

Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85

Ease of making argument: High

How easy was it for you to write a persuasive argument for this sentiment?

People are fundamentally competitive and selfish. In this cutthroat world, the only way to get ahead is by deceit, aggression, and putting yourself first.

Ease of making argument: Low

How easy was it for you to write a persuasive argument for this sentiment?

People are fundamentally cooperative and helpful. In this communal world, what leads to success is honesty, kindness, and helping others.

Ease: Open-ended

If you wish to elaborate on this question, feel free to add an explanation here.

cond	easy_open
high	I don’t fully believe that statement, so it was challenging, but I also can see why someone would feel that way, so it made it easier to complete that question.
high	We can make arguments for anything but that does not mean we believe in it.
high	Good
low	Cooperation and kindness are important for all.
high	No further comment.
high	It is a question that constantly comes up in my circle and gets a lot of comments on how true it is.
low	It’s hard to prove because it’s an opinion
high	If you feel the different perspective of this, it is easy. If you don’t, it will be hard.
high	It is easy for me to put myself in various situations, I like to write so my characters often portray things I hate as well as love.
high	I do not belive in that. So, it is hard to convince someone for things that I do not believe.
high	It’s easy because it’s true, in the most part and I see it everyday.
low	N/A
low	I felt like it was easy to explain why it is important to be cooperative and helpful because it is what I believe.
low	It is easy to see how corporation leads to better outcomes for people, but somewhat difficult to put that idea into words.
low	This statement provides a scene of tranquility and peace, which is quite persuasive.
high	I could put myself in this mindset by observing how the world works.
low	It was easy for me to write what I wrote, but I was having trouble thinking of additional examples which is why I stopped where I did.
low	I agree with the statement, but it was difficult to elaborate on that because it’s something that I fundamentally believe in and don’t exactly question. Also I’m autistic and can’t explain my thoughts thoroughly.
high	no
low	It was difficult to think of specific examples in day to day life, so I went with a more all-encompassing, since the beginning of time approach.
high	I think it was difficult because I don’t entirely agree with the sentiment.
high	I struggled to come up with a practical appeal and instead wrote mostly about conceptual things.
low	I did not agree with the prompt, making it difficult to write about.
low	None
low	I keep a positive and optimistic view on people being good and cooperative, so it was easy to write a persuasive argument.
low	I don’t think what I came up with was particularly persuasive after reading the randomly chosen contribution
low	N/A
low	none
low	Deep down I believe this to be true so its easy to write persuasive arguments for something you believe.
low	It was somewhat hard because of how open ended the scenario was.
high	It’s always difficult for me to write something persuasive.
high	I don’t normally think like this. It was difficult to come up with a reason to find this behavior acceptable.
high	It goes against my own beliefs, so I had to think about it a bit.
low	Those are good characteristics I try to achieve on a daily basis, I live my life with those things in mind.
low	I couldn’t think of any good examples.
high	I think it’s obvious to everyone that you have to be hyper competitive to get ahead
high	The premise is not one I agree with so I did not find it particularly easy or enjoyable to write.
high	I think its easy to see how this is common is real life so it made it easier to write overall.
low	Hard to walk the line of persuasive and commanding and argument. I tried to make it seem as if they still have the choice, but look at it in a manner that leans towards the side of the argument.
low	While this description of people is true, I do not believe society in its current configuration tends to reward these positive qualities. The most successful people in our world are generally sociopaths willing to climb over others to get their way, pay children pennies in sweat shops to maximize their own wealth, etc.
high	While I feel this is certainly true for parts of society, I like to think those parts aren’t that important.
high	None
low	I feel strongly about the position I was asked to defend, so it was easy to write.
low	I had to think fast so that my reply can make sense
high	I honestly feel that despite any success gained by deceit, aggression or putting oneself first will ultimately result in personal failure.
high	I don’t believe this to be entirely true, so it was hard to write from that perspective
high	I don’t agree with the statement. Therefore, I had to try and think as someone agrees would think.
high	I honestly feel like it goes either way. I went to a private Catholic college and many of my friends have the same views has me so I think that makes me feel better about the world than others. Hopefully that makes sense!
low	This world it’s not as bad as we sometimes think..we still have good things to explore..
high	Hard because I see examples of how people act this way.
high	N/A
high	It is harder to write a persuasive argument when it comes to asserting negative behavior is ok.
high	In today’s society and what we see from government it is easy to discuss how dog eat dog the world is right now, even though I don’t agree with this philosophy I can see how it would influence or persuade others to thinking this is the way it is or should be.
low	Nothing
high	None
low	The text box where I wrote my response was small, and I could not see all of the text at the same time.
low	I generally agree with this statement, but it was difficult to think of any arguments that would persuade someone of this position. While I agree with this statement, it’s someone difficult in this currently social climate to think of something to defend it.
high	I don’t believe in this statement.
high	Creating a persuasive message for this sentiment is fairly simple as the concepts of competition selfishness and ruthless strategies are frequently observed and largely accepted in various social contexts
high	it was tough because it is in direct contrast to how I actually feel about humanity
high	No
low	We must cooperate in this world more then ever because the internet and smartphones connect people a lot more then it did in the past.
low	n/a
high	I felt this isn’t part of my values so it was tough to envision something such as this.
low	It`s bullshit, all of it, every single last word i wrote, COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT!!!. But it said no matter how i feel, try to write something persuasive. It is true that for the most part there are more good people you run into day to day then bad. But that does not mean they really are kind. There are good and bad people, but it is getting harder and harder to find the good ones.
high	Personal experience
low	Because people are bad evil and will take advantage anyway they can
low	with cooperation we can gather together and involve more strength for a common goal.

Agreement: High

Before the study today, to what extent did you agree with the following sentiment?

People are fundamentally competitive and selfish. In this cutthroat world, the only way to get ahead is by deceit, aggression, and putting yourself first.

Agreement: Low

Before the study today, to what extent did you agree with the following sentiment?

People are fundamentally cooperative and helpful. In this communal world, what leads to success is honesty, kindness, and helping others.

Analysis

Competitive Worldview

cond	N	Mean	SD
high	90	3.263333	1.0761406
low	95	2.592632	0.8055977

t(164.65) = 4.78, p = 0, Lower CI = 0.39, Upper CI = 0.95, d = 0.74.

Relationship expectancies

cond	N	Mean	SD
high	90	2.652778	1.420997
low	95	2.318421	1.296190

t(179.19) = 1.67, p = 0.097, Lower CI = -0.06, Upper CI = 0.73, d = 0.25.

Influence expectancies

cond	N	Mean	SD
high	90	3.566667	1.617496
low	95	2.768421	1.287853

t(169.96) = 3.7, p = 0, Lower CI = 0.37, Upper CI = 1.22, d = 0.57.

Dominance

cond	N	Mean	SD
high	90	3.238889	1.558734
low	95	2.678947	1.447514

t(180.05) = 2.53, p = 0.012, Lower CI = 0.12, Upper CI = 1, d = 0.38.

Mediation model 1: Relationship expectancies

a = 0.33 (p = 0.096)
b = 0.73 (p = 0)
direct = 0.56 (p = 0.012)
indirect = 0.32 (p = 0.061)

Mediation model 2: Compliance expectancies

a = 0.8 (p = 0)
b = 0.48 (p = 0)
direct = 0.56 (p = 0.012)
indirect = 0.18 (p = 0.389)

Mediation model 3: Simultaneous mediators

Relationship a = 0.33 (p = 0.096)
Relationship b = 0.67 (p = 0)
Influence a = 0.8 (p = 0)
Influence b = 0.07 (p = 0.337)
direct = 0.56 (p = 0.012)
indirect = 0.28 (p = 0.114)

Correlations

Full sample

Correlation matrix

df_recd_elg %>%
  dplyr::select(CWV:easy,agree_compet,agree_coop,pers) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies

a = 0.73 (p = 0)
b = 0.49 (p = 0)
direct = 0.99 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.63 (p = 0)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies and influene expectancies

Relationship a = 0.73 (p = 0)
Relationship b = 0.48 (p = 0)
Influence a = 0.69 (p = 0)
Influence b = 0.02 (p = 0.751)
direct = 0.99 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.62 (p = 0)

High CWV condition

Correlation matrix

df_recd_elg %>%
  filter(cond == "high") %>% 
  dplyr::select(CWV:easy,agree_compet,agree_coop,pers) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies

a = 0.63 (p = 0)
b = 0.44 (p = 0)
direct = 1.03 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.75 (p = 0)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies and influene expectancies

Relationship a = 0.63 (p = 0)
Relationship b = 0.48 (p = 0)
Influence a = 0.63 (p = 0)
Influence b = -0.07 (p = 0.361)
direct = 1.03 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.77 (p = 0)

Low CWV condition

Correlation matrix

df_recd_elg %>%
  filter(cond == "low") %>% 
  dplyr::select(CWV:easy,agree_compet,agree_coop,pers) %>%
  corPlot(upper = TRUE,stars = TRUE,xsrt = 270)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies

a = 0.97 (p = 0)
b = 0.59 (p = 0)
direct = 0.97 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.39 (p = 0.025)

Mediation model: Relationship expectancies and influene expectancies

Relationship a = 0.97 (p = 0)
Relationship b = 0.46 (p = 0.002)
Influence a = 0.63 (p = 0)
Influence b = 0.17 (p = 0.172)
direct = 0.97 (p = 0)
indirect = 0.41 (p = 0.018)

Extra

Order effects

DV: Competitive Worldview

## `summarise()` has grouped output by 'blockorder'. You can override using the
## `.groups` argument.

blockorder	cond	N	Mean	SD
cwv_first	high	54	3.420370	1.0953383
cwv_first	low	46	2.563044	0.7608062
exp_first	high	36	3.027778	1.0163270
exp_first	low	49	2.620408	0.8524425

Ok - looks like the manipulation check is way stronger when it’s right after the manipulation.

DV: Relationship expectancies

## `summarise()` has grouped output by 'blockorder'. You can override using the
## `.groups` argument.

blockorder	cond	N	Mean	SD
cwv_first	high	54	2.638889	1.458277
cwv_first	low	46	2.021739	1.099022
exp_first	high	36	2.673611	1.383344
exp_first	low	49	2.596939	1.412202

Wow. Ok. Looks like the manipulation check is reinforcing the manipulation, generating the effects we’d want to see. And when it’s after expectancies, there’s no effect at all.

DV: Influence expectancies

## `summarise()` has grouped output by 'blockorder'. You can override using the
## `.groups` argument.

blockorder	cond	N	Mean	SD
cwv_first	high	54	3.523148	1.633428
cwv_first	low	46	2.472826	1.168128
exp_first	high	36	3.631944	1.614097
exp_first	low	49	3.045918	1.344039

Same pattern. Ok. This is good to know.

Moderators

Sledge-hammer persuasiveness

DV: CWV

DV: Relationship expectancies

DV: Self behavior

Ok, this all tracks.

Ease of writing argument

DV: CWV

DV: Relationship expectancies

DV: Self behavior

Previous agreement with High CWV sentiment

DV: CWV

DV: Relationship expectancies

DV: Self behavior

Previous agreement with Low CWV sentiment

DV: CWV

DV: Relationship expectancies

DV: Self behavior