Selective ignorance? The role of the information target in allocation decisions

Previous research has demonstrated the tendency to avoid information about consequences of one's behavior, as a way of acting selfishly while still preserving a positive self-image. In the present research we propose that altruistic motivation may also be linked to information avoidance, particularly when the missing information pertains to the decision-maker themselves rather than to a passive recipient. In two preregistered studies ( N = 500), using between- and within-subjects designs, we examined participants' allocation decisions as a function of their decision to avoid information about payoffs, while manipulating whether the missing information referred to oneself or the other. Results revealed a consistent pattern across studies: when the missing information referred to the other, avoiding it was significantly associated with less prosocial choices. Conversely, when the missing information referred to oneself (i.e., the participant's own payoff), avoidance was significantly associated with more prosocial choices. This finding highlights the role of the social and moral contexts in which ignorance occurs, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of when ignorance serves self-interest and when it may instead support prosocial motivation.