Who are blood donors? The reluctant altruist, the impure altruist, and the warm-glow giver

Ferguson, Eamonn, Keatley, David, Evans, Rachel , Taylor, Michael J., Flynn, Niall and Lawrence, Claire (2012) Who are blood donors? The reluctant altruist, the impure altruist, and the warm-glow giver. Psychology and Health, 27 (Supp1). ISSN 0887-0446

Full text not available from this repository.

Item Type:Article
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

Background: A supply of blood, provided by volunteer donors, is crucial for all health services. Recent epidemiological data suggest that experienced blood donors are motivated by warm-glow (it makes me feel good) and novice donors by a newly identified motivation of reluctant altruism (RA: donating because no-one else will), rather than pure altruism. These new and surprising findings require further investigation. A series of behavioural economic (BE) games to assess warm-glow and psychometric analyses were used to examine the validity of these findings. Methods: Data were gathered from a psychometric experimental study (N = 450) and four lab based economic games (N = 210). Findings: The BE games confirm blood donors are warm-glow givers. Reluctant altruism emerges as a clear factor and the strongest predictor of intentions to donate in non-donors, current and relapsed donors. Discussion: Implications for theories of altruism, blood donation and recruitment of blood donors are discussed.

Additional Information:Special Issue: Abstracts Supplement: “Resiliance and Health” : 26th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Prague, Czech Republic, 21st - 25th August 2012
Keywords:blood donor, charity, warm-glow, altruism
Subjects:C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology
C Biological Sciences > C841 Health Psychology
Divisions:College of Social Science > School of Psychology
Related URLs:
ID Code:19674
Deposited On:06 Jun 2016 15:15

Repository Staff Only: item control page