Can conflict lead to pro-social behavior and positive psychological growth?

Ori Shai

Economics Letters, 2021, vol. 198, issue C

Abstract: This study examines the effect of conflict on pro-social behavior (e.g., volunteering). To this end, I exploit a panel dataset to track individuals who were in danger of physical injury during a military operation in Israel in 2014 before and after this event, against a control group that was not in danger. My results reveal that following the conflict, individuals who were in physical danger are more likely to behave pro-socially than those who were not. Exploring possible mechanisms, I find increased psychological growth (e.g., closer relations with others and greater appreciation of life) after the operation. Placebo analysis using the pre-conflict period reinforces my conclusions.

Keywords: Pro-social behavior; Conflict; Psychological growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:198:y:2021:i:c:s0165176520304444

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109684

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