There is a constant demand to activate prosocial behavior in inexpensive ways. Research has repeatedly shown that people behave more prosocially under the perception that other people might be watching them. According to several studies, this feeling of being watched can be evoked by a simple image depicting a pair of eyes, a phenomenon which is called the ‘Watching Eyes effect’. The existing research shows a clear picture as findings from 25 out of 37 studies, that implemented Watching Eyes as a stimulus, found a significant effect of this treatment. Yet to date, the specific mechanisms that underlie the effect of Watching Eyes are not entirely clear.

To address this research gap, an extensive literature review was conducted in early 2019 that included all available studies on this phenomenon to derive theoretical assumptions based on already known effects as well as the effect of Watching Eyes on prosocial behavior. In doing so, I divided the studies into laboratory, field, and online experiments and looked at corresponding differences and similarities within them.

Drawing upon the design and results of 37 different studies, as well as the theoretical literature, a theory of the Watching Eyes mechanisms at work is put forward, focusing on the individuals perception of being observed or being anonymous and the presence of others.

Based on the results of my literature review, new hypotheses about the possible mechanism of Watching Eyes will be proposed as well as tested using a meta-analysis.