Zero-sum game belief as a social axiom: A 37- nation study

Numerous studies carried out on Polish samples revealed that the belief that life is a zero-sum game i.e., that social relations have an antagonistic nature, is associated with the range of negative social consequence. This paper introduces the concept of zero-sum game belief within a new cross-cultural paradigm, which presents it as a universal social axiom. In order to prove its universality we conducted a study on student samples from 37 countries (N = 6138), analyzing data on individual and cultural levels. The zero-sum game belief was associated with other cultural dimensions, revealed a conceptual and empirical affinity to social and societal cynicism, and correlated with objective socio-economic indices. Thus, the zero-sum game belief seems to be a new cultural dimension. peerReviewed publishedVersion