Experimental investigations into gender, group dynamics and emotions

Abstract

This thesis consisting of three chapters, uses laboratory and online experiments to investigate the interplay of gender, group dynamics and emotions. Chapter 1 employs a laboratory experiment to investigate how the gender of a group leader affects the willingness of a group member to contribute. The results of Chapter 1 reveal that when paired with a leader of a different gender, group members display a greater inclination to contribute, which potentially improves group performance. Emotions have received little attention in studying deviations from Bayes’ rule. Therefore, I conduct an online experiment to uncover the role of induced emotions in belief updating in Chapter 2. I find the existence of symmetric belief updating: Participants statistically weigh good news and bad news similarly in all treatment groups. Besides, participants neglect prior beliefs. With respect to gender differences in belief updating, I find that men significantly weigh less on good news when they are induced with fear compared to the other two treatment groups. The findings of Chapter 2 help to explain anomalies in marketplaces and gender differences in self-confidence. In Chapter 3, I use a laboratory experiment to study the impact of induced emotions on the group member’s willingness to answer for the group. Individual performance is not affected by treatments. With induced pleasure, high-performing women exhibit a greater willingness to answer for their group. Results of Chapter 3 suggest that workplaces with positive emotions have the potential to reduce gender gaps in leadership and contribution, thus increasing engagement and productivity.