Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

8-2019

Abstract

Major natural disasters often prompt charities to start rallying for extra donations. However, little is known about which variables predict disaster donations most strongly. Here we focused on donations to victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013). A multifaceted approach combined three potential predictors: (a) prosocial traits (social value orientation and social mindfulness, or SVO and SoMi), (b) socio-demographic variables, and (c) minimal social cues (eye images). Participants (N = 643) completed an online survey in which they decided whether or not to spend time on a fundraising task to support the typhoon victims. Results of this exploratory study showed that SVO and SoMi, followed by educational attainment and political ideology, were the most prominent predictors of the decision to donate. Furthermore, SVO, SoMi, educational attainment, and religiosity were related to the donated amount. In disaster relief appeals, prosocial personality (and certain socio-demographic factors) might be a more important predictor of helping behavior than exposure to eye images.

Keywords

Charitable giving, Eye images, Education, Prosocial personality, Natural disaster

Discipline

Applied Behavior Analysis | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Personality and Individual Differences

Volume

146

First Page

217

Last Page

225

ISSN

0191-8869

Identifier

10.1016/j.paid.2018.03.024

Publisher

Elsevier: 24 months

Copyright Owner and License

Publisher

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.03.024

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