The Effect of Target's Power on Prosocial Behavior: A Cross-Cultural Study

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Social power significantly influences life outcomes and social interactions.
• Research has primarily focused on the agent's power, neglecting the target's power's impact on social behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of a target's power on prosocial behavior.
• To examine how culture, particularly the power distance dimension, moderates this effect.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted in China and the United States involving 893 emerging adults.
• Participants completed questionnaires assessing prosocial behavior towards power-unspecified and powerful targets.

Main Results:

• Both Chinese and American participants exhibited reduced prosocial behavior towards powerful targets compared to power-unspecified targets.
• Chinese participants displayed lower levels of prosociality towards both target types than American participants.

Conclusions:

• A target's power significantly influences an agent's prosocial behavior.
• Cultural context, exemplified by the differences between China and the US, plays a crucial role in shaping prosocial responses to power.