2021-22 Abstract: Impact of violence on the formation of children’ social preferences in the Sahel region of Africa 

How does growing up in conditions of extreme adversity impacts the formation of social preferences? To answer this question, our project examines the development of social preferences in vulnerable children in the turbulent Sahel region of Africa. We will evaluate fairness preferences, altruism, anti-social preferences, and conformity to social norms that underpin a healthy and nourishing social fabric. Field experiments utilizing behavioral economics games on social preferences will be conducted with children in two geographically distinct regions of Burkina Faso and Mali: one in the southwest relatively peaceful area, and one in the northeast currently suffering from extreme violence triggered by recurrent Islamist militant incursions. These data will contribute to our knowledge of the influence of early exposure to violence on the formation of social preferences and social norms. They will also be used to inform interventions to foster prosocial motivations, social values, attitudes, and social norms that promote cooperation. This collaborative project with institutions of higher education in the Sahel region, France, and the US uses a multi-disciplinary approach of behavioral economics, social psychology and developmental psychology. This project also brings a unique opportunity for educating undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty in behavioral economics and psychology in a developing part of the world, which is largely underrepresented in academic research.