Concern for future generations predicts costly present-day prosociality and extraordinary altruism: A case study of...

Are concerns for future generations and present-day prosociality at odds? Across three studies, we test the common assumption of a tradeoff between future-oriented concern and immediate helping behaviour. Drawing on theories of moral expansiveness, we examine whether individuals who report greater concern for the far future (as measured by 'intergenerational concern' and 'impartial intergenerational beneficence') are also more likely to engage in or express interest in organ donation, a costly and urgent form of present-day prosociality. In Study 1 (a large-scale survey), Study 2 (a pre-registered experiment) and Study 3 (a comparison of living organ donors, often termed 'extraordinary altruists', with demographically similar controls), concern for future generations predicts donor status, comfort discussing donation and intentions to register. These findings extend psychological theory on prosocial concern across time and provide initial evidence for a novel, theoretically grounded pathway by which future-oriented concern may strengthen rather than compete with present-day prosociality and altruism.