Fig. 1: Self-serving memory errors.

Differences between the mean percent participants recalled giving, versus how much they actually gave. Positive values reflect “self-serving” memory errors. a In Experiment 1, relatively stingy-behaving participants recalled being more generous than they actually were, but not generous-behaving participants. b In Experiment 2, we show that specifically individuals who violate their own personal standard of fairness (violators) recall being more generous than they actually were, but not those upholding their own fairness standard (upholders). In Experiment 3 (c) and Experiment 4a (d), we replicate the finding that violators, but not upholders, recall being more generous than they truly were. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals (CIs).