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Abstract

The social axioms system uniquely predicted a large variety of behaviours and preferences. It is suggested that (a) the assistance social axioms provide in predicting the behaviour of others, and (b) the self–characteristics embedded in the axioms account for this unique prediction ability. Three studies, each pertaining to a different axiom, tested the prediction power of the social axiom regarding two types of behaviours: One that is directly impacted by how others are expected to behave, and another that is more self–directed. Results consistently revealed a unique contribution of the social axioms over personal characteristics in prediction of behaviours directed by how others are expected to behave, whereas behaviours that are more self–directed were largely explained by relevant personal characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords

attitudes behaviour prediction social axioms

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What I do and What I think they Would Do: Social Axioms and Behaviour

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