Neurosci Res. 2014 Nov 18. pii: S0168-0102(14)00290-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.10.020. [Epub ahead of print]

The neural bases for valuing social equality.

Aoki R1, Yomogida Y2, Matsumoto K2.

Author information

• 1Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1, Tamagawa-gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1, Koji-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8471, Japan; Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States. Electronic address: qqqqaokiq@yahoo.co.jp.
• 2Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1, Tamagawa-gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan.

Abstract

The neural basis of how humans value and pursue social equality has become a major topic in social neuroscience research. Although recent studies have identified a set of brain regions and possible mechanisms that are involved in the neural processing of equality of outcome between individuals, how the human brain processes equality of opportunity remains unknown. In this review article, first we describe the importance of the distinction between equality of outcome and equality of opportunity, which has been emphasized in philosophy and economics. Next, we discuss possible approaches for empirical characterization of human valuation of equality of opportunity vs. equality of outcome. Understanding how these two concepts are distinct and interact with each other may provide a better explanation of complex human behaviors concerning fairness and social equality.