A Dual‐Process Motivational Model of Attitudes toward Vegetarians and Vegans

A Dual‐Process Motivational Model of Attitudes toward Vegetarians and Vegans. Madeline Judge, Marc S Wilson. European Journal of Social Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2386

Abstract: Vegetarians and vegans comprise a minority of most western populations. However, relatively little research has investigated the psychological foundations of attitudes towards this minority group. The following study employs a dual process model of intergroup attitudes to explore the motivational basis of non‐vegetarians’ attitudes towards vegetarians and vegans. Participants were 1326 individuals recruited through advertisements in a national newspaper in New Zealand. Non‐vegetarian participants first completed measures of ideological attitudes and social worldviews, and then were randomly assigned to complete a measure of outgroup attitudes towards either vegetarians or vegans. Although non‐vegetarians’ attitudes towards both vegetarians and vegans were generally positive, attitudes towards vegans were significantly less positive than attitudes towards vegetarians, and male participants expressed significantly less positive attitudes towards both outgroups than female participants. The structural equation model predicting attitudes towards vegetarians and vegans fit the data well and explained a significant amount of the variance in attitudes.

 h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

Situational meaninglessness and state boredom: Cross-sectional and experience-sampling findings

Situational meaninglessness and state boredom: Cross-sectional and experience-sampling findings.
Christian S. Chan et al. Motivation and Emotion, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-018-9693-3

Abstract: Theories of boredom assert that boredom is a product of situational meaninglessness. We conducted two studies to test if the perceived meaningfulness of a situation is associated with state boredom, above and beyond sadness, personality traits, and boredom proneness. In Study 1, 105 participants (72.4% female: mean age = 33.9 years, SD = 17.5) described situations in which they experienced boredom, no boredom, engagement, or sadness. They then rated the level of state boredom, sadness, and meaninglessness that they experienced in that situation. As hypothesized, state boredom was associated with situational meaninglessness, before and after controlling for sadness. In Study 2, 148 participants (73.0% female; mean age = 19.2 years, SD = 1.8) first provided baseline data on personality traits and boredom proneness. Through a smartphone app-based experience-sampling method, they then responded to a brief questionnaire multiple times a day, across 7 days. The questionnaire asked about the nature of their current activity, whether the activity was done alone or with other people, and their affective state. Results from multilevel modelling of 3022 entries suggest that perceived meaningfulness of the activity was negatively associated with state boredom, above and beyond sadness, personality, and boredom proneness. We also found that being with others during the activity acted as a moderator; activities lower in perceived meaningfulness were associated with higher ratings of state boredom when done with others than when done alone. These results demonstrate that perceptions of meaninglessness characterize state boredom.

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

Perceptions of Microaggressive Behavior Across the Ideological Spectrum

Harper, Craig A., 2018. “Perceptions of Microaggressive Behavior Across the Ideological Spectrum”. PsyArXiv. April 2. doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/973V8

Abstract: Microaggressions–subtle slights that communicate implicit bias–have become a widespread concern in recent years.However, the empirical credibility of microaggression theory has been questioned due  to a lack  of  conceptual  clarity  and  the  prevalence  of methodological  biases within   microaggression   research. Challenging   the   empirical   validity   of   the traditional demographics-based microaggression  concept,  this  study  examined  the  potential  for  cross-spectrum  microaggression perception being  a  method  for  derogating  opposition  viewpoints, consistent with existing work on ideological prejudice. Using an experimental online survey (N= 404), there was a significant association between participants’ ideological orientation and their judgements of the ‘perpetrators’and ‘victims’of microaggressions when ‘victims’were associated with leftist causes, but not right-wing causes. These associations were not moderated by emotional investment in ideological orientation (i.e., collective narcissism). Implications for microaggression  theory, diversity  training  programs, and  the  study  of  politically-salient individual differences are subsequently discussed.

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

The cosmic gorilla effect or the problem of undetected non terrestrial intelligent signals: It is worse for those with reflexive cognitive style

The cosmic gorilla effect or the problem of undetected non terrestrial intelligent signals. Gabriel G. De la Torre, Manuel A.Garcia. Acta Astronautica, Volume 146, May 2018, Pages 83-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.02.036

Highlights
•    New ETI/NTI classification is provided and discussed.
•    Inattentional blindness experiment shows potential explanation for silence.
•    Role of dark matter in new forms of ETI is discussed.
•    Reflexive cognitive style resulted less effective in the inattentional blindness task.

Abstract: This article points to a long lasting problem in space research and cosmology, the problem of undetected signs of non terrestrial life and civilizations. We intentionally avoid the term extraterrestrial as we consider other possibilities that may arise but not fall strictly within the extraterrestrial scope. We discuss the role of new physics including dark matter and string theory in the search for life and other non terrestrial intelligence. A new classification for non terrestrial civilizations with three types and five dimensions is also provided. We also explain how our own neurophysiology, psychology and consciousness can play a major role in this search of non terrestrial civilizations task and how they have been neglected up to this date. To test this, 137 adults were evaluated using the cognitive reflection test, an attention/awareness questionnaire and a visuospatial searching task with aerial view images to determine the presence of inattentional blindness.

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

Men, but not women, who experienced greater intensity of an earthquake became more risk tolerant a year after it. Risk preferences are persistent even five years after the Earthquake at almost the same magnitude as those shortly after it. Also, these men gamble more.

Do Risk Preferences Change? Evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Chie Hanaoka, Hitoshi Shigeoka, and Yasutora Watanabe. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. Apr 2018, Vol. 10, No. 2: Pages 298-330. https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/app.20170048

Abstract: We investigate whether individuals' risk preferences change after experiencing a natural disaster, specifically, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Exploiting the panels of nationally representative surveys on risk preferences, we find that men who experienced greater intensity of the earthquake became more risk tolerant a year after the Earthquake. Interestingly, the effects on men's risk preferences are persistent even five years after the Earthquake at almost the same magnitude as those shortly after the Earthquake. Furthermore, these men gamble more, which is consistent with the direction of changes in risk preferences. We find no such pattern for women. (JEL D12, D81, J16, Q54)

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

Politically-focused intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors after the 2016 elections in the USA

Politically-focused intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors in a community sample. Sandra L. Cepeda et al. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.03.011

Highlights
•    Political intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors (PITRB) occurred frequently.
•    25.2% reported experiencing at least one PITRB multiple times a day.
•    PITRB was associated with all measures of psychopathology and disability.
•    Anxiety control moderated the relationship between PITRB and both anxiety and depression.

Abstract: A significant proportion of the U.S. population report increased stress attributed to the political climate following the controversial 2016 United States (U.S.) Presidential election. The political stressors paired with the growth in news consumption and social media-use could be a potential trigger for obsessive-compulsive-like symptoms specific to politics in some individuals. This study aimed to elucidate the rate of Politically-focused Intrusive Thoughts and associated Ritualistic Behaviors (PITRB), their demographic and clinical correlates, and the degree of association with political ideology. Survey data were collected using the crowdsourcing platform Mechanical Turk. A total of N = 484 individuals completed the survey. Measures of politically-focused intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors, general obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, anxiety control, worry, and disability were administered, as well as a measure of social and economic conservative affiliation. Results showed that a quarter of the sample (25.2%) had at least one PITRB more than once a day. PITRB was associated with all measures of psychopathology and disability. Finally, anxiety control moderated the relationship between PITRB and both anxiety and depression. No differences in psychopathology were found between major party affiliations. The findings suggest that politically-focused intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors are associated with psychopathology domains in a manner comparable to general obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Anxiety; Politics; Impairment; Social media

Changes in Japan in the Last Fifteen Years, by Noah Smith

Changes in Japan in the Last Fifteen Years. Noah Smith. Mar 2018, https://twitter.com/Noahpinion

1/I have been coming to Japan since 2002.

Since that time, the country has changed enormously. Year-to-year the changes are small, but looking back, they really add up.

Here are some of the things that have changed.

2/One of the biggest changes is diversity. Especially in Tokyo.

Thanks to the tourism boom, the place is jam-packed with non-Japanese people. But that's not nearly all of it.

3/There are non-Japanese people working everywhere in Tokyo. Latin American chefs in yakitori restaurants. Swedish clerks in clothing stores. Indian staff in electronics stores. Chinese exchange students behind cash registers. Chinese salary workers in company offices.

4/Foreign languages are commonplace.

In 2002 people were impressed that I could speak a few sentences of Japanese. Now, people are just relieved.

5/The second big thing that has changed is gender roles.

In 2002, housewives were still the norm. Now they're increasingly uncommon.

6/In 2002, "office ladies" would flood lunch restaurants while male salarymen stayed at their desks.

Now, the OLs are mostly gone.

7/Furthermore, there is now open discussion of sexism in Japanese society, whereas 15 years ago there was very little.

8/A third big change is where people live.

15 years ago, there were tons of "parasite singles" living with (and living off of) their parents into their 30s.

Now, there are few. A lot of young people have moved out, and a substantial fraction have gotten roommates.

9/In addition to these three big changes, there have been many minor changes.

With the fall in youth idleness, there are fewer bands, fashion kids,  and other young people engaged in such lifestyles.

10/Styles in Tokyo are plainer and more conservative. A few people still dress wild, but "miniskirt and knee boots" has been replaced with "jeans and sneakers" among normal folks.

Osaka is still more flamboyant.

11/Both Tokyo and Osaka are denser and more built-up. Construction continues apace.

12/Startups and entrepreneurship are more common.

There is a tech entrepreneur class here that didn't exist 15 years ago.

13/America's mystique has mostly worn off. Now it's Japan that has the mystique, with boatloads of American tourist kids racing down the street yelling "OMG I'm in Japan!"


14/Half-Japanese kids are starting to become more visible among groups of schoolkids. Mostly half-white but also some half-black. And I'm sure lots of half-Chinese or half-Korean or half-Vietnamese kids I didn't even notice.


15/In general, Japan has changed in ways I'd expect from globalization and economic liberalization.

The one thing that hasn't changed: the prices.

I can still get a Lipton milk tea in any convenience store for 105 yen!

(end)

Women made more negative attributions about, & experienced diminished desire to affiliate with, female targets wearing (vs. not wearing) cosmetics. This penalty was specific to female observers, mediated by decreases in perceived trustworthiness, & driven by less desirable women

DelPriore, D. J., Bradshaw, H. K., & Hill, S. E. (2018). Appearance Enhancement Produces a Strategic Beautification Penalty Among Women. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000118

Abstract: Previous research demonstrates that women’s beauty is rewarded across a myriad of social contexts, especially by men. Accordingly, from a functional perspective, another woman’s attractiveness can signal competitive disadvantage—and evoke negative responses—among female observers. Further, because the benefits of beauty are rewarded based on superficial qualities rather than on merit or performance, women may perceive same-sex others who use appearance enhancement to gain advantages as being dishonest or manipulative. We examined these possibilities across four experiments testing whether college-aged women impose a strategic beautification penalty (SBP) on female targets that have enhanced their appearances with cosmetics. We found that women made more negative attributions about, and experienced diminished desire to affiliate with, female targets wearing (vs. not wearing) cosmetics. The SBP was: specific to female observers (Experiment 2); mediated by decreases in perceived trustworthiness (Experiment 3); and driven by less desirable women (Experiment 4). Importantly, the negative effects of beautification effort extended beyond the increased physical attractiveness that resulted from this effort. The results suggest that engaging in appearance enhancement can produce unintended negative consequences for relationships between women.


Check also: The Causes and Consequences of Women’s Competitive Beautification. Danielle J. DelPriore, Marjorie L. Prokosch, and Sarah E. Hill. The Oxford Handbook of Women and Competition, edited by Maryanne L. Fisher. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/08/the-causes-and-consequences-of-womens.html

Local mating markets in humans and non-human animals. Ronald Noë. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, October 2017, 71:148.
https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/09/local-mating-markets-in-humans-and-non.html

The Reversed Gender Gap in Education and Assortative Mating in Europe. De Hauw, Yolien, Grow, Andre, and Van Bavel, Jan. European Journal of Population, https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/09/highly-educated-women-tend-to-partner.html

Marzoli, D., Havlícek, J. and Roberts, S. C. (2017), Human mating strategies: from past causes to present consequences. WIREs Cognitive Science, e1456. doi:10.1002/wcs.1456. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/09/enhancing-mens-perception-of-their-own.html

Beauty, Effort, and Misrepresentation: How Beauty Work Affects Judgments of Moral Character and Consumer Preferences. Adriana Samper Linyun W Yang Michelle E Daniels. Journal of Consumer Research, ucx116, https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucx116. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/11/beauty-effort-and-misrepresentation-how.html

Behavioral display of lumbar curvature in response to the opposite sex. Zeynep Şenveli Bilkent University, Graduate Program in Neuroscience - Master's degree thesis. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/08/behavioral-display-of-lumbar-curvature.html

Macaques show human-like curiosity: Willingness to pay (or to lose) to obtain information that provides no instrumental or strategic benefit, with the amount to pay scaling with the amount of information

Monkeys are Curious about Counterfactual Outcomes. Maya Zhe Wang, Benjamin Hayden. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/291708

Abstract: While many non-human animals show basic exploratory behaviors, it remains unclear whether any animals possess human-like curiosity. We propose that human-like curiosity satisfies three formal criteria: (1) willingness to pay (or to sacrifice reward) to obtain information, (2) that the information provides no instrumental or strategic benefit (and the subject understands this), and (3) the amount the subject is willing to pay scales with the amount of information available. Although previous work, including our own, demonstrates that some animals will sacrifice juice rewards for information, that information normally predicts upcoming rewards and their ostensible curiosity may therefore be a byproduct of reinforcement processes. Here we get around this potential confound by showing that macaques sacrifice juice to obtain information about counterfactual outcomes (outcomes that could have occurred had the subject chosen differently). Moreover, willingness-to-pay scales with the information (Shannon entropy) offered by the counterfactual option. These results demonstrate human-like curiosity in non-human animals according to our strict criteria, which circumvent several confounds associated with less stringent criteria.

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

We tested the hypothesis that we humans feel disgust when reminded of our animal nature. Some disgusting things may remind us of our animal nature, but they are not disgusting because they do so

Kollareth, D., & Russell, J. A. (2018). Even unpleasant reminders that you are an animal need not disgust you. Emotion, 18(2), 304-312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/emo0000365

Abstract: Three studies (Ns = 200, 400, 400) tested the hypothesis that we humans feel disgust when reminded of our animal nature. Participants verbally rated their disgust reaction to pictures of humans engaged in various unpleasant actions. For pictures of events that present danger or suffering, accompanied by an explicit and vivid reminder that animals face the same situation, participants reported fear and sadness rather than disgust. For pictures of events that present a norm violation, an explicit animal reminder (relative to a human picture alone) did not lead to a consequent increment in disgust. For pictures of events that present a physically disgusting contamination, an explicit animal reminder (relative to a human picture alone) led to a decrement in disgust. Thus, not all unpleasant animal reminders are disgusting. Some disgusting things may remind us of our animal nature, but they are not disgusting because they do so.

h/t: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf

Retaliation on a voodoo doll symbolizing an abusive supervisor restores justice

Righting a wrong: Retaliation on a voodoo doll symbolizing an abusive supervisor restores justice. Lindie H.Liang et al. The Leadership Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2018.01.004

Abstract: When a subordinate receives abusive treatment from a supervisor, a natural response is to retaliate against the supervisor. Although retaliation is dysfunctional and should be discouraged, we examine the potential functional role retaliation plays in terms of alleviating the negative consequences of abusive supervision on subordinate justice perceptions. Based on the notion that retaliation following mistreatment can restore justice for victims, we propose a model whereby retaliation following abusive supervision alleviates the negative effect of abusive supervision on subordinate justice perceptions. In two experimental studies (Study 1 and 2), whereby we manipulated abusive supervision and subordinate symbolic retaliation—in particular, harming a voodoo doll that represents the abusive supervisor—we found general support for our predictions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Not using smartphones in the bedroom increases happiness and quality of life; risk of smartphone addiction decreases when smartphones are left outside the bedroom; sleeping without smartphones improves sleep, relationships, focus and wellbeing

Sleeping with the frenemy: How restricting ‘bedroom use’ of smartphones impacts happiness and wellbeing. Nicola Hughes, Jolanta Burke. Computers in Human Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.03.047

Highlights:
•    Not using smartphones in the bedroom increases happiness and quality of life
•    Risk of smartphone addiction decreases when smartphones are left outside the bedroom
•    Going to bed without smartphones in the room improves quality of sleep
•    Sleeping without smartphones improves sleep, relationships, focus and wellbeing
•    93.6% of participants “might” or “would” consider not sleeping with their phone again

Abstract: Smartphone technology has dramatically changed the way people interact with the physical and online world. Research shows both positive and negative impacts of smartphone and social platform use. Positive outcomes relate to social capital and engagement, while negative impacts result from compulsive usage, negative comparisons and the stress of being ‘always on’. Little evidence is available regarding wellbeing impacts of smartphone use at particular times of day. This study measures the impact of overnight smartphone use on wellbeing. Experimental group participants abstained from smartphone use in the bedroom for one week. The Subjective Happiness Scale, Quality of Life Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale and Intensity & Time Affect Survey were issued at the beginning and end of the week. Paired sample T-Tests compared pre and post intervention participant surveys scores. It was hypothesised that subjective wellbeing would increase. In three out of four measures (SAS-SV, SHS and QOLS) the hypothesis was upheld, although impacts were relatively small. 93.6% of experimental group participants said they “might’ or “would” consider self-imposing intervention conditions moving forward, suggesting that participants experienced greater benefits not measurable through the questionnaires selected. Some qualitative analysis supports exploration of findings. Further research to explore other wellbeing impacts is encouraged.

Keywords: Smartphone; social media; social overload; subjective wellbeing; cyber psychology; positive psychology


Check also Hypernatural Monitoring: A Social Rehearsal Account of Smartphone Addiction. Samuel P. L. Veissière and Moriah Stendel. Front. Psychol., 20 February 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00141

Abstract: We present a deflationary account of smartphone addiction by situating this purportedly antisocial phenomenon within the fundamentally social dispositions of our species. While we agree with contemporary critics that the hyper-connectedness and unpredictable rewards of mobile technology can modulate negative affect, we propose to place the locus of addiction on an evolutionarily older mechanism: the human need to monitor and be monitored by others. Drawing from key findings in evolutionary anthropology and the cognitive science of religion, we articulate a hypernatural monitoring model of smartphone addiction grounded in a general social rehearsal theory of human cognition. Building on recent predictive-processing views of perception and addiction in cognitive neuroscience, we describe the role of social reward anticipation and prediction errors in mediating dysfunctional smartphone use. We conclude with insights from contemplative philosophies and harm-reduction models on finding the right rituals for honoring social connections and setting intentional protocols for the consumption of social information.

Adolescents Who Experienced Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences Are Willing to Experience These Consequences Again in the Future

Wicki, M., Mallett, K. A., Delgrande Jordan, M., Reavy, R., Turrisi, R., Archimi, A., & Kuntsche, E. (2018). Adolescents Who Experienced Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences Are Willing to Experience These Consequences Again in the Future. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pha0000184

Abstract: Alcohol use and risky single occasion drinking are common among adolescents and are associated with a higher risk of various negative social, physical, academic, or sexual consequences. Studies have shown that among college students, willingness to experience negative consequences is associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing these consequences in the future. However, it remains unclear how experiencing negative consequences influences adolescents’ willingness to experience them again. Based on a representative sample of 1,333 alcohol-using 14- to 15-year-olds (47.9% female), a path model was used to examine the associations between risky drinking, negative social and physical consequences, and willingness to experience the specific consequence in the future. As hypothesized, more frequent risky drinking was positively associated with experiencing negative consequences (i.e., saying or doing embarrassing things, regretted sexual experiences, impairment of schoolwork, problems with parents/friends, accident or injury, hangover, vomiting, memory lapses). Contrary to our second hypothesis, adolescents who experienced a negative consequence were also consistently willing to experience it in the future. Findings suggest that adolescents may see the experience of negative consequences as a necessary evil to attain the positive consequences. Prevention efforts may benefit from focusing on ways of attaining positive consequences by promoting alternatives to engaging in risky drinking practices, as well as reducing negative consequences (e.g., by promoting protective behavioral strategies).

Check also Hangover and Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders: Existing Evidence and Potential Mechanisms. Thomas M. Piasecki, Brandon M. Robertson, and Amee J. Epler. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010 Jun; 3(2): 92–102. DOI: 10.2174/1874473711003020092

Abstract: Hangover may be related to propensity to develop alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, the etiological role, if any, played by hangover in AUD is unclear. From a motivational perspective, hangover can be construed as either a deterrent to future alcohol consumption or a setting event for negative reinforcement that could promote deviant drinking practices (e.g., “hair-of-the-dog” drinking). Hangover could be related to AUD risk even if it does not play a direct role in promoting or inhibiting near-term drinking. For example, measures of hangover might serve as symptoms of AUD or as markers of individual differences that more directly account for AUD risk. Empirical evidence (though usually indirect) exists to support contentions that hangover is related to both risk for and protection from AUD. In this article, we briefly address variation in assessment strategies in existing hangover research because measures of hangover frequency and hangover susceptibility may prove to have different correlates. Next, we review the existing, limited evidence on relations between hangover and AUD risk. Finally, we sketch a variety of theoretically-informed hypotheses that might help delineate productive lines of inquiry for this emerging field.

Keywords: hangover, alcohol, alcohol use disorder, risk, individual differences

Willpower theories predict outcomes across domains of academics, health, goal progress, interpersonal relationships, and well‐being. Generally, limited willpower theorists' belief in their limited capacity results in poorer outcomes, particularly during times of high demand

Lay theories of willpower. Zoë Francis, Veronika Job. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12381

Abstract: Some people believe that willpower relies on a limited resource and that performing cognitive work (such as using self‐control) results in mental fatigue. Others believe that willpower is nonlimited and that performing cognitive work instead prepares and energizes them for more. These differing lay theories of willpower determine whether or not one's self‐control performance actually does decrease or increase after use, with only limited willpower theorists showing a decrease (the ego depletion effect). Due to the self‐control requirements of everyday life, willpower theories also predict outcomes across domains of academics, health, goal progress, interpersonal relationships, and well‐being. Generally, limited willpower theorists' belief in their limited capacity results in poorer outcomes, particularly during times of high demand. By understanding how willpower theories form and function, interventions that encourage nonlimited willpower theories may be created to improve people's performance and well‐being.

The Unresponsive Avenger: More Evidence That Disinterested Third Parties Do Not Punish Altruistically

Pedersen, Eric J., William B McAuliffe, and Michael E McCullough 2018. “The Unresponsive Avenger: More Evidence That Disinterested Third Parties Do Not Punish Altruistically”. PsyArXiv. March 28. doi:10.1037/xge0000410

Abstract: Many social scientists believe humans possess an evolved motivation to punish violations of norms—including norm violations that do not harm them directly. However, most empirical evidence for so-called altruistic punishment comes from experimental economics games that create experimental demand for third-party punishment, raising the possibility that the third-party punishment uncovered in these experiments has been motivated by a desire to appear concerned about social norms rather than by actual concern about upholding them. Here we present the results of five experiments in which we used an aggression paradigm to contrast second-party and third-party punishment with minimal experimental demand. We also summarize the results of these experiments meta-analytically. We found robust evidence that subjects who were insulted by a stranger experienced anger and punished the insulter. To a lesser degree, subjects who witnessed a friend receive an insult also became angry and punished the insulter. In contrast, we found robust evidence that subjects who witnessed a stranger receive an insult did not punish the insulter, although they did experience modest amounts of anger. In only one experiment did we find any punishment on behalf of a stranger, and this result could plausibly be explained by the desire to escape the moral censure of other bystanders. Our results suggest that experimental designs that rely on demand-laden methods to test hypotheses about third-party punishment may have overstated the case for the existence of this trait.