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COVID-19 alters the relationship between relational mobility and helping behavior
Xiaoxiao Zhang1, Xian Zhao2, Gengnan Liao1
1Department of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 24, 2022
Summary
Relational mobility influences helping behaviors, with higher mobility encouraging participation in Study 1 but discouraging it during the COVID-19 pandemic in Study 2. These findings highlight context-dependent helping behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Socioecological factors significantly shape human behavior, including prosocial actions.
- Relational mobility, the ease of forming and dissolving social ties, is a key socioecological variable.
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique ecological pressures that may alter social behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of relational mobility on helping behaviors.
- To examine how these effects differ before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
- To understand the role of socioecological variables in shaping prosociality.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted in China to assess helping behaviors.
- Study 1 manipulated relational mobility to observe its effect on signing up for a psychological experiment.
- Study 2 embedded relational mobility manipulation in a phone interview to assess signups for a COVID-19 support program.
Main Results:
- In Study 1, high relational mobility led to a greater proportion of participants signing up for a subsequent experiment compared to low relational mobility.
- In Study 2, high relational mobility resulted in fewer signups for a COVID-19 support program compared to low relational mobility.
- The findings indicate a context-dependent effect of relational mobility on helping behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Relational mobility's influence on helping behaviors is not uniform and varies across different ecological contexts.
- The COVID-19 pandemic appears to moderate the relationship between relational mobility and prosocial actions.
- Understanding these socioecological influences is crucial for comprehending the nuances of human helping behaviors.
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