WHO Dietze, Feinberg, Stancato, & Keltner
WHAT The influence of awe on prosocial behaviors
WHEN 2015
WHERE Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE People who experience awe are more likely to give money.
Recent research stemming from multiple studies has found that individuals who experience awe are more likely to engage in pro-social behaviors.
One study surveyed 1,500 people across the country to determine how predisposed they were to experience awe...
WHAT The influence of awe on prosocial behaviors
WHEN 2015
WHERE Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE People who experience awe are more likely to give money.
Recent research stemming from multiple studies has found that individuals who experience awe are more likely to engage in pro-social behaviors.
One study surveyed 1,500 people across the country to determine how predisposed they were to experience awe...
Participants were then given 10 raffle tickets to share, as they saw fit, with a fellow ticket-less participant. People more likely to experience awe were also more charitable in their ticket distribution.
The other studies consisted of two main components:
Why? Head researcher Paul Piff, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine explains, "By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may encourage people to forgo strict self-interest to improve the welfare of others."
These findings could prove advantageous for non-profits and other organizations which have revenues heavily reliant upon donations. Inducing awe in consumers and tapping into the resulting proclivity to engage in helpful, positive, productive behaviors, could be just what these groups need for truly awesome fundraising.
The other studies consisted of two main components:
- Participants took part in an activity specifically created to elicit either awe, a neutral reaction, or a different reaction, like amusement.
- Participants then took part in an activity that measured pro-social behaviors.
Why? Head researcher Paul Piff, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at UC Irvine explains, "By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may encourage people to forgo strict self-interest to improve the welfare of others."
These findings could prove advantageous for non-profits and other organizations which have revenues heavily reliant upon donations. Inducing awe in consumers and tapping into the resulting proclivity to engage in helpful, positive, productive behaviors, could be just what these groups need for truly awesome fundraising.
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Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 108(6), 883-899.
Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 108(6), 883-899.