Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
Charity Misconduct on Public Health Issues Impairs Willingness to Offer Help
Lijun Yin1, Ruzhen Mao1, Zijun Ke1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Abstract:
Charity organizations positively impact our societies but charity misconduct impairs people's willingness to contribute to charity and functional health systems on public health issues. This study investigates the impact of charity misconduct on people's willingness to offer help on public health issues and possible ways of reducing the negative impact brought by charity misconduct news through four studies (N = 1269). Results showed that charity misconduct on public health issues significantly reduced individuals' willingness to offer help via both the charity involved with the misconduct and any charity they prefer (Study 1 and 2). Furthermore, news on charity misconduct reduced people's general willingness to help in contexts that did not involve charity (Study 3). Finally, presenting charity nonmisconduct news after charity misconduct news increases individuals' willingness to offer help via the nonmisconduct charity (Study 4), suggesting a potential way to nudge people to provide help in the fight against the negative impact brought by charity misconduct news. The findings show the backfire of reporting charity misconduct news and have important implications for potential ways to facilitate people to offer help.
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Egoism and Altruism
Bystander Effect
Ethics and Bioethics
Healthcare Agencies I
Obedience

