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The altruistic personality: in what contexts is it apparent?
G Carlo1, N Eisenberg, D Troyer
1Arizona State University, Tempe 85287.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|September 1, 1991
Summary
The study found that individuals with an altruistic personality are more likely to help others when escape from the situation is easy, especially if the distress is obvious. Emotional reactivity also influences helping behavior in less demanding situations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Understanding the altruistic personality is key to predicting helping behavior.
- Situational factors significantly influence whether individuals offer assistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific contexts where an altruistic personality is most evident.
- To examine the interplay between personality traits and situational variables in predicting helping behavior.
Main Methods:
- College students completed questionnaires assessing altruistic personality, emotionality, and social desirability.
- Participants were exposed to a simulated helping situation with manipulated emotional evocativeness and ease of escape.
Main Results:
- Individuals high in dispositional altruism were more likely to help when escape was easy, particularly with obvious distress cues.
- Altruistic and emotionally reactive individuals showed increased helping in psychologically "weak" environments.
Conclusions:
- Situational factors, such as ease of escape and environmental "strength," moderate the expression of an altruistic personality.
- Helping behavior is a complex interplay of stable personality traits and immediate situational contexts.