Changes in Reported Nation-Level Pro-social Behavior Frequencies Over 6 Years: A Test of Alternative Predictors

Peter B. Smith ()
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Peter B. Smith: University of Sussex

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2019, vol. 144, issue 3, No 9, 1195-1208

Abstract: Abstract This research is designed to test alternative explanations for changes in national frequencies in reported pro-social behaviors. Representative samples drawn from 136 nations reported whether in the past month they had helped a stranger who needed help, donated money to a charity, and worked as a volunteer for an organization. Change in frequencies of these behaviors over a 6 year interval were examined in relation to changes in values and in social context. Increases were more frequent in more collectivist nations. Helping strangers increased most in nations where generalized trust decreased and demographic pressures became more acute. Donating increased where civility values rose and where problems associated with refugees and displaced persons increased. Working as a volunteer increased in nations where emancipative values became more widespread. Thus, measures of both values and contextual events are required to provide an adequate account for these types of change.

Keywords: Pro-social behavior; Generalised trust; Fragile states index; Emancipative values (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:soinre:v:144:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-018-02051-2

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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-018-02051-2

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