According to a new University of California-Berkeley study, the highly religious are less motivated to show generosity than are non-believers. The findings are being published in the online issue of “Social Psychological and Personality Science.”
The results seem to conflict with a 2008 University of British Columbia study asserting that the faithful are “more helpful, honest and generous.”
The study conducted three experiments, with social scientists finding that compassion “consistently drove less religious people to be more generous. For highly religious people, however, compassion was largely unrelated to how generous they were.” Compassion, as defined in the study, is the emotion felt when people recognize another’s suffering and are thus motivated to help.
“Overall, we find that for less religious people, the strength of their emotional connection to another person is critical to whether they will help that person or not,” said UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer, a co-author of the study. “The more religious, on the other hand, may ground their generosity less in emotion, and more in other factors such as doctrine, a communal identity, or reputational concerns.”
The study’s lead author, Laura Saslow, a post-doctoral student at UC-San Francisco, was inspired to conduct the study after an atheist friend noted that he only donated to Haiti’s earthquake recovery efforts because of a moving video, not out of some logical sense that help was needed.
“I was interested to find that this experience – an atheist being strongly influenced by his emotions to show generosity to strangers – was replicated in three large, systematic studies,” Saslow said.
In the second experiment, 101 American adults watched either a brief neutral video or a “heartrending one,” which showed children in poverty. The subjects were then given 10 “lab dollars” and instructed to donate the money to a stranger. What the study’s authors found is that the least religious participants appeared to be motivated by the emotional video.
“The compassion-inducing video had a big effect on their generosity,” Willer said. “But it did not significantly change the generosity of more religious participants.”
In the final experiment, over 200 college students were asked to report how compassionate they felt at that moment, and played “economic trust games.” They were given money and could either chose to share it or not. “In one round, they were told that another person playing the game had given a portion of their money to them, and that they were free to reward them by giving back some of the money, which had since doubled in amount.”
Again, non-believers or those of little faith, and given to momentary compassion, were more inclined to share winnings with strangers than fellow participants.
One can well imagine that when the faithful see the results of this study, they will call it the work of the devil.
[Image via Reuters]
May 01, 2012 at 8:49 pm, Katie Oberhansly Gonzalez said:
First, why would "the faithful" connect your article with the devil? Secondly, what does "highly religious" mean? Goes to church? Claims a religious belief? Claiming and believing are not the same thing. Just as going to church does not automatically infuse you with belief or faith. Interesting findings but not terribly conclusive, give that and the fairly small sampling. Most of the foster parents, adoptive parents, and people I know who give money to help others would identify themselves as Christians. Those agnostic, "religious" in name only, or athiests, don't give to others at all. Not a sampling, just my experience.
May 05, 2012 at 3:30 am, Alex Varnau said:
"…just [your] experience." which has been shown to be wrong both by hard numbers here, and by my own personal experience, as both an athiest, and someone who knows other athiests. additionally, the title is misleading, but the real point is that atheists give because they care, and religious people give because they think someone is watching.
May 06, 2012 at 4:17 pm, Asia Skinner said:
Alex Varnau I have to agree with you. Most christians in my area do things because they're supposed to and they don't want to be seen as "un-christian". And it's not just "bad christians" that I know, its numerous church populations in my area (like, every single one). Half the time it's not even because "god is watching", it's because "we have to look like good christians to the rest of the church".
It's not as obvious when you're 'in' with the christians, but when you're on the outside looking in it sticks out like a sore thumb.
May 01, 2012 at 10:20 pm, Edwin Rutsch said:
May I suggest a further resource to learn more about empathy and compassion.
The Center for Building a Culture of Empathy.
The Culture of Empathy website is the largest internet portal for resources and information about the values of empathy and compassion. It contains articles, conferences, definitions, experts, history, interviews, videos, science and much more about empathy and compassion.
http://CultureOfEmpathy.com
May 02, 2012 at 2:33 am, Heather Henderson said:
I knew that.
May 02, 2012 at 2:33 am, Heather Henderson said:
I knew that.
May 05, 2012 at 5:08 am, Larry Seals said:
Elementary my dear Watson.
May 05, 2012 at 10:32 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Oh please, utter garbage! Why so needy? Why is this obsession some Athiests have about being the most compassionate or, usually the most intelligent? You seem like sad little people who have to repeat the same mantra to give yourselves some form of superior self worth. Get a life!
May 05, 2012 at 4:30 pm, Jeff Asmussen said:
Hmm? "sad little people who have to repeat the same mantra to give yourselves some form of superior self worth." That describes the religious extremely well.
It's not utter garbage. It's a well documented fact. You know facts, something believers don't have any time for.
May 06, 2012 at 1:55 am, Matt Dante said:
Wow. And they call atheists arrogant?
May 07, 2012 at 12:10 am, Aaron Beaupre said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one to see the irony in Michael's post.
May 07, 2012 at 3:21 am, David DeCoster said:
We are superior. We are more rational, usually more educated and to top it off, there is proof that we are more compassionate! Check mate. U mad?
May 07, 2012 at 5:33 pm, Aaron Beaupre said:
Now now, let's not go boosting our egos unnecessarily. Above all, we are human, and we are all, all we have. While atheists tend to be more/better educated and more rational/logical, we mustn't become afflicted by the 'I'm better than you' attitude that some of the religious community have- that's where the problem lies. Just go out, do good, and don't push atheism like they push their -isms and -itys. However, I'm all for pushing religion OUT of the government. It's (supposed to be) secular for a reason.
May 08, 2012 at 11:43 pm, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Matt Dante I am an atheist! I just weep at proselytizing idiots. Guess what? There are stupid ones and mean ones too.
May 08, 2012 at 11:45 pm, Michael Paul Marshall said:
David DeCoster Why would I be mad I am an atheist? "We are more rational, usually more educated and to top it off, there is proof that we are more compassionate!" you understand this makes you sound like an arrogant prick by the way.
May 08, 2012 at 11:53 pm, David DeCoster said:
Michael Paul Marshall I am arrogant, but regardless everything I said is still true when you compare the average atheist vs. religious person. Atheists also have a lower incarceration rate and a lower divorce rate.
May 08, 2012 at 11:56 pm, Aaron Beaupre said:
David DeCoster Not to mention, our lives are free from the silly burden of worrying if the Invisible Man is mad at me for touching myself or thinking 'unclean' thoughts.
I just wish that theists would spend half as much money improving their communities, as they spend on their fancy god shacks.
May 08, 2012 at 11:58 pm, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Jeff Asmussen Why are you so arrogant that you assume that I am a believer? Why is it so important to you that atheists are better people? Why is it so important to you to you that the people in your club are better than ones in another? Why is it so important to you to have to keep reassuring yourself that you are more intelligent/compassionate than the religious? What is missing in your life?
May 09, 2012 at 12:01 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
David DeCoster Again why is it so important to you to you that atheists are better than the religious? Why do you have to keep repeating these things to yourself?
May 09, 2012 at 12:03 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Aaron Beaupre "I just wish that theists would spend half as much money improving their communities,……." what like all atheists do? Dream on!
May 09, 2012 at 12:04 am, Aaron Beaupre said:
Michael Paul Marshall Well, they manner in which you phrase your initial post certainly suggests that you are, in fact, a theist.
May 09, 2012 at 12:05 am, Aaron Beaupre said:
Michael Paul Marshall I'll let Misters Buffet and Gates field the response to that jab directed at me.
May 09, 2012 at 12:09 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Aaron Beaupre. I did say 'some atheists'. It's indicative of these sorts of sites that they assume all atheists speak with the same voice, which is a little sad.
May 09, 2012 at 12:13 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Aaron Beaupre ' I'll let Misters Buffet and Gates field the response to that jab directed at me.' Oh come on 2 atheists in the world who are obscenely wealthy give away money that they would never miss, a more valid test would be people on the breadline. I know a lot of athiests who are tight and who are also misanthropic.
May 09, 2012 at 12:18 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
No-one has yet explained to me why these sorts of studies seem to be so important to some atheists
May 09, 2012 at 12:51 am, Aaron Beaupre said:
Michael Paul Marshall Because it's 8:30 in the evening and we just don't care anymore.
May 10, 2012 at 12:31 am, Michael Paul Marshall said:
Aaron Beaupre Nice cop out!
May 11, 2012 at 10:31 pm, Mark Kendrick said:
What is this obsession Christians have about believing in tribal Jewish mythology? Why do they have this desperate need to shove this tribal Jewish mythology into modern American life? These Christians believe we live in the Bronze or Iron Age where those two religions were created. We do not. Since we don't and yet Christians demand adherence to their tribal myths, this proves that they need to be on medication. People who have a desperate need to live in an age that disappeared 2000 years ago – and who demand that we all live there with them – have serious mental issues.
May 05, 2012 at 4:32 pm, Jeff Asmussen said:
Seems like one of those pointless studies where the conclusion was well known and understood before the study was even started.
May 07, 2012 at 2:38 am, Scylla Kat said:
Still, you go 'round asserting things "everyone knows," someone's gonna ask you to back it up. And then there are the times when what is "well known" is completely utter tripe. Always check.
May 09, 2012 at 11:22 am, Jørgen Reitan Sivertsen said:
Not a surprise. Believers think they will end up in heaven, living a better life than on earth ever after, but at the same time knowing that the majority of people are suffering in hell. How's that for lack of compassion? In their defence, they also believe that god himself helps others, "Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them." Charity makes no sense in this context, as there is no need for humans to help if god will help, right? Too bad he never has, so far.
May 09, 2012 at 11:55 am, Martin Kaalund Pedersen said:
Humans created god, not the other way around.
May 11, 2012 at 9:05 am, Karl Webb said:
http://i.imgur.com/PIh3B.jpg
August 05, 2012 at 4:14 am, Michael Fleenor said:
Based on some people I know that dont believe in God. When ask about taking action on social issues that need to questioned. They appear to be more motivated to back up words with deeds than many people I know who claim to be christians. Perhaps I need to talk with larger sample? I would like to see a real study done.
August 05, 2012 at 5:15 am, Rhonda Brown Blain said:
Maybe the difference is "Are you "highly religious" or do you have a strong and close "faith-walk"? It's been my observation that there can be a big difference in those 2 things……
August 05, 2012 at 11:15 am, William Crafton said:
The bottom line – religious people are hypocrites, like everyone else. GO FUCKING FIGURE!