--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consider the following two scenarios…" description: "\"“Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy aimed at encouraging people to recycle soda cans. Scenario 1: Let’s say you live in a place wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg" --- # Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy… ![“Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy aimed at encouraging people to recycle soda cans. Scenario 1: Let’s say you live in a place where people aren’t paid to recycle soda cans. On a freezing morning you see a neighbor carrying a large bag, full of cans, on her way to the…” quote by Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg) > ““Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy aimed at encouraging people to recycle soda cans. Scenario 1: Let’s say you live in a place where people aren’t paid to recycle soda cans. On a freezing morning you see a neighbor carrying a large bag, full of cans, on her way to the recycling center. Scenario 2: Your town has changed its policy. Now people can receive a five-cent reward for each recycled soda can. You see your neighbor carrying a large bag of soda cans to the recycling center. What do you think of your neighbor in Scenario 1? In Scenario 2? In the first scenario, you probably think that your neighbor is an environmental steward—a citizen of high character, doing her part for the environment. But once the small, five-cent-per-can reward is in place, you might think that she is either cheap or really down on her luck. “Why,” you might ask yourself, “is she going through so much effort for such a small compensation? Is she a miser?”” [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote illustrates how incentives can shift perceptions of motives, turning altruistic actions into seemingly self‑interested ones when a monetary reward is introduced. **In simple terms:** Rewards can change how we judge others' actions. Key Takeaway Recognize that incentives alter perceived motivations. Themes perception incentives morality social judgment Mood reflective analytical Type observational psychological When to use this quote - public policy design - environmental campaigns - personal decision making - community interactions Key Concepts behavioral economics motivation social perception Questions to Reflect On - Do incentives always undermine perceived virtue? - Can altruism coexist with compensation? A Different Perspective People may still be motivated by values despite small rewards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Cans Scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cans-scenario-5830796/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Neighbor Scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor-scenario-5830798/) [Reward Recycled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-recycled-5830797/) [Scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenario/) [Soda Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soda-neighbor-5830799/) ## Related quotes > [“The next time you are filled with worry, try Carrier’s strategy: 1. Define the worst case. Ask yourself honestly, What’s the worst thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/the-next-time-you-are-filled-with-worry-try-carrier-s-strategy-1/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [When I get to do whatever I want, I'm perfectly happy. I've found that the best scenario is that I just do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/when-i-get-to-do-whatever-i-want-i-m-perfectly-happy-i-ve-found-that/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [The future is not a scenario written, which we only have to act out; it is a work which we have to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-garaudy/the-future-is-not-a-scenario-written-which-we-only-have-to-act-out-it/) [Roger Garaudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-garaudy/) > [Get into the habit of imagining an alternate scenario. By posing such 'imagine if' questions... we can distance ourselves from the frames, cues, anchors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/get-into-the-habit-of-imagining-an-alternate-scenario-by-posing-such/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [She looks up at me with those vulnerable eyes. “What if it means something?” She asks. “What if it does?” “Promise me it won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/she-looks-up-at-me-with-those-vulnerable-eyes-what-if-it-means/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [It's like, I don't think you understand, Michael Jackson's bedroom is two stories and it has, like, three bathrooms and this and that. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/it-s-like-i-don-t-think-you-understand-michael-jackson-s-bedroom-is/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [Always play for the worst case scenario..If it is the best you'll win anyway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trott/always-play-for-the-worst-case-scenario-if-it-is-the-best-you-ll-win/) [David Trott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trott/) > [Those scenario you make up in your head when you are in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-scenario-you-make-up-in-your-head-when-you-are-in-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you can look at failure and say, 'What is the worst case scenario,' it's not as bad as it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/when-you-can-look-at-failure-and-say-what-is-the-worst-case-scenario/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [I never think in a negative scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-never-think-in-a-negative-scenario/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I'm more into describing a scenario and I move around in that scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-more-into-describing-a-scenario-and-i-move-around-in-that-scenario/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [You always have to be worried about something that is considered a so-called 'scientific theory' that fits every scenario. Climate change, as they've defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-always-have-to-be-worried-about-something-that-is-considered-a-so/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You try to take the positives in every crappy scenario that comes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/you-try-to-take-the-positives-in-every-crappy-scenario-that-comes-up/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [Whatever the scenario, the dynamism of developing nations, their demographics and competitive power are great sources for superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-babacan/whatever-the-scenario-the-dynamism-of-developing-nations-their/) [Ali Babacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-babacan/) ## More by Uri Gneezy > [“If you are a policy maker, don’t apply bandages to old injuries when what we need is early, corrective surgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/if-you-are-a-policy-maker-don-t-apply-bandages-to-old-injuries-when/) [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) > [“Our study suggests that given the right culture, women are as competitively inclined as men, and even more so in many situations. Competitiveness, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/our-study-suggests-that-given-the-right-culture-women-are-as/) [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) > [“We all assume that offering people money will get them to do what we want. But let’s say you go into a bar after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/we-all-assume-that-offering-people-money-will-get-them-to-do-what-we/) [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) > [“Most of us don’t respond well to delayed gratification; we are much more interested in immediate rewards. This is why we procrastinate, fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/most-of-us-don-t-respond-well-to-delayed-gratification-we-are-much/) [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) > [“When you’re deciding whether to motivate someone, you should first think about whether your incentive might crowd out the willingness to perform well without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/when-you-re-deciding-whether-to-motivate-someone-you-should-first/) [Uri Gneezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) [Explore all 6 Uri Gneezy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/) ## More Ask yourself quotes > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/) [Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/) > [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/) [Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/) > [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/) [Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) [Browse all 1,272 Ask yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy aimed at encouraging people to recycle soda cans. Scenario 1: Let’s say you live in a place where people aren’t paid to recycle soda cans. On a freezing morning you see a neighbor carrying a large bag, full of cans, on her way to the recycling center. Scenario 2: Your town has changed its policy. Now people can receive a five-cent reward for each recycled soda can. You see your neighbor carrying a large bag of soda cans to the recycling center. What do you think of your neighbor in Scenario 1? In Scenario 2? In the first scenario, you probably think that your neighbor is an environmental steward—a citizen of high character, doing her part for the environment. But once the small, five-cent-per-can reward is in place, you might think that she is either cheap or really down on her luck. “Why,” you might ask yourself, “is she going through so much effort for such a small compensation? Is she a miser?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Uri Gneezy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/consider-the-following-two-scenarios-involving-a-policy-aimed-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ask yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/consider-the-following-two-scenarios-involving-a-policy-aimed-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/uri-gneezy-54468_ask-yourself_consider-the-following-two-scenarios-inv_2369385.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Consider the following two scenarios involving a policy aimed at encouraging people to recycle soda cans…” — Uri Gneezy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Uri Gneezy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-gneezy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Consider the following two scenarios involving...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/consider-the-following-two-scenarios-involving-a-policy-aimed-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-gneezy/consider-the-following-two-scenarios-involving-a-policy-aimed-at/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```