Finkelstein

year

2010

Aim

To examine the effect of culture on volunteer behaviour.

Method

Online self-report questionnaires that measured a variety of

possible reasons for volunteering including:

• altruistic motivation to help

• the desire to strengthen social ties

• role identity (volunteering for the sake of consistency

with one’s self-image)

• career-related reasons.

Participants

194 undergraduates at a US university who participated in

exchange for extra course credit.

Results

Collectivism was more strongly related than individualism

to altruistic motivation and the desire to strengthen

social ties.

• Collectivism, but not individualism, correlated with

helping in order to sustain role identity.

• On the other hand, individualism was most closely

associated with engaging in volunteering for career-

related reasons.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that individualists and collectivists

differ in why they choose to volunteer, but not in the

willingness to volunteer itself.