Fig. 2.

Monetary value of self-disclosure. (A) Representative data from one participant in study 2. The x axis represents the difference between the monetary values associated with the two options presented in each trial. Each dot indicates the percentage of times that the participant chose to answer a self question over a fact question (orange), a self question over an other question (red), or an other question over a fact question (blue) at each of the monetary differences between those two options. Negative values indicate that participants incurred a relative monetary loss for answering a self question. The PSE was calculated as the point at which a cumulative normal distribution function, fit to these responses, passes 50%. This point represents the relative monetary value associated with one question type over the other. (B) Across all participants in study 2, answering a question about the self was worth significantly more than answering both a question about another person or a question about a fact. There was no significant difference in the relative monetary value of an other and a fact question. (C) Data from one participant in study 4. This participant showed the most negative PSE for self shared trials (solid red), forgoing 1 cent for each opportunity to share information about the self. (D) Across all participants in study 4, answering questions about the self was worth significantly more than answering questions about another person, and sharing answers with a friend was worth significantly more than answering questions privately. Each factor—self and sharing—contributed independently to the monetary worth of self-disclosure.