It makes sense that people would be more likely to participate in something that offers both a social incentive and a monetary incentive, right? In reality, one incentive actually ends up cancelling the other out. Thus, attempts to increase participation by offering money for what is deemed a social responsibility removes the social incentive, rather than working in tandem with it.
Think about donating blood versus “donating” plasma. If you told friends and family that you donated blood, they would commend your social responsibility. But if you told them that you “donated” plasma, they would probably wonder why you needed money.
Why the disparity in reaction between two similar actions that both provide comparable social benefits? Because the social good of “donating” plasma is negated by the monetary incentive, rather than the two incentives working simultaneously.
Think about donating blood versus “donating” plasma. If you told friends and family that you donated blood, they would commend your social responsibility. But if you told them that you “donated” plasma, they would probably wonder why you needed money.
Why the disparity in reaction between two similar actions that both provide comparable social benefits? Because the social good of “donating” plasma is negated by the monetary incentive, rather than the two incentives working simultaneously.