According to a news report released by Kühne Logistics University in Germany on August 20th, the relationship between social status and willingness to help others has been a topic of debate among experts since a well-received study was published in 2010. Some argue that people with lower economic conditions or education levels are more generous because they rely more on each other in their daily lives and have stronger connections.
On the other hand, some counter that helping others requires resources, so those with more resources are better able to assist others. However, previous research results have been inconsistent.
To delve into this issue, a study led by doctoral student Johannes Stark at the university analyzed data from approximately 160 studies involving around 680,000 respondents. The results indicated that both arguments are correct, but they apply to different contexts.
The study revealed that if helping others involves economic costs, such as donations, wealthier individuals tend to be slightly more generous and donate more. However, when it comes to direct interactions with those in need, the advantage of the wealthy diminishes, narrowing the gap between them and the poor.
An experiment involving about 960 participants confirmed this – those who feel reliant on others or have ample financial resources tend to be more generous when helping others. This shows that both mechanisms are at play.
Christian Tröster, a leadership and organizational behavior expert and professor at the university who led the study, stated, “Both arguments are correct, they just apply in different situations. People who rely on others in daily life are more likely to lend a helping hand when someone needs help. Those with financial means are more willing to be generous when providing assistance that requires spending money.”
Researchers suggest that to encourage people to help others – whether in the community, business, or fundraising activities – the key lies in creating the right atmosphere and context, rather than solely focusing on specific target groups.
By promoting interpersonal interactions, volunteer services, and low-barrier participation opportunities, encouraging people to invest not just financially but also their time and personal energy, can enhance people’s willingness to engage more broadly.
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
It is worth mentioning that a study at the University of Mannheim in Germany found that helping others can benefit one’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being, significantly increasing one’s sense of happiness, which means that helping others is akin to helping oneself.