Publication Type

PhD Dissertation

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

5-2025

Abstract

Zero-sum thinking refers to a generalized mentality or a belief that one person’s gain can only come at the expense of another person’s loss. In this research, I argue that people’s zero-sum thinking is, at least in part, influenced by the interacting characteristics of the environment, namely, resource scarcity and population density. This is because resource scarcity highlights people’s resource insecurity, particularly when population density accentuates potential competition for finite resources. Consequently, zero-sum thinking reduces trust and cooperation as people reduce their commitment to potentially risky social investments. Analysis with data from a large-scale field study and ecological data provided preliminary support for my hypothesis in Study 1. This initial finding, however, was not replicated in subsequent studies. Instead, auxiliary analyses in Study 2 found that perceived resource scarcity and crowdedness are moderately related, and perceived competitiveness mediates the relationship between crowdedness and zero-sum thinking only. Experimental manipulation of resource scarcity and crowdedness in Studies 3 (Singaporean university sample) and 4 (American community sample) showed that perceived competitiveness and zero-sum thinking generally remain high regardless of experimental assignment. Additionally, zero-sum thinking is found to predict trust, caution, and cynicism but not people’s willingness to cooperate. While results fail to fully support my hypotheses, they suggest that perceived competitiveness in people’s environment promotes zero-sum thinking and erodes people’s trust toward others. As such, zero-sum thinking may be a functional, psychological response that orients people toward social competition.

Keywords

behavioral ecology, zero-sum thinking, population density, resource scarcity

Degree Awarded

PhD in Psychology

Discipline

Place and Environment | Social Psychology

Supervisor(s)

CHENG, Chi-Ying; LEUNG, Ka Yee

First Page

1

Last Page

103

Publisher

Singapore Management University

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Author

Download

Share

COinS