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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
psychology
Prosocial spending and well-being: Cross-cultural evidence for a psychological universal
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Volume 104, No. 4, Year 2013
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Description
This research provides the first support for a possible psychological universal: Human beings around the world derive emotional benefits from using their financial resources to help others (prosocial spending). In Study 1, survey data from 136 countries were examined and showed that prosocial spending is associated with greater happiness around the world, in poor and rich countries alike. To test for causality, in Studies 2a and 2b, we used experimental methodology, demonstrating that recalling a past instance of prosocial spending has a causal impact on happiness across countries that differ greatly in terms of wealth (Canada, Uganda, and India). Finally, in Study 3, participants in Canada and South Africa randomly assigned to buy items for charity reported higher levels of positive affect than participants assigned to buy the same items for themselves, even when this prosocial spending did not provide an opportunity to build or strengthen social ties. Our findings suggest that the reward experienced from helping others may be deeply ingrained in human nature, emerging in diverse cultural and economic contexts. © 2013 American Psychological Association.
Authors & Co-Authors
Aknin, Lara B.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Dunn, Elizabeth W.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Helliwell, John F.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Biswas-Diener, Robert
United States, Portland
Positive Acorn
Nyende, Paul
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Barrington-Leigh, Christopher P.
Canada, Montreal
Université Mcgill
Burns, Justine
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Kemeza, Imelda
Uganda, Mbarara
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Ashton-James, Claire E.
Netherlands, Groningen
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Norton, Michael I.
United States, Boston
Harvard Business School
Statistics
Citations: 708
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1037/a0031578
ISSN:
00223514
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
South Africa
Uganda