Facilitating and disinhibiting prosocial behaviors: The nonlinear interaction of trait perspective taking and trait personal distress on volunteering

Prior theorists and researchers have suggested that multiplicative models o f prosocial behavior may account for weak and inconsistent relations betwee n traits and prosocial behaviors. This study examined the multiplicative re lations of trait personal distress, trait sympathy, and trait perspective t aking on prosocial behaviors. Nonlinear, 2-way interactions were hypothesiz ed, such that as trait personal distress decreased from moderate to low lev els, and trait perspective taking or trait sympathy increased, volunteering would increase. One hundred and eighty-two undergraduate students complete d a battery of trait measures that included trait perspective taking, trait sympathy, and trait personal distress. Approximately 6 weeks later, the st udents were given an opportunity to volunteer for a charity organization. R esults indicated that there was a nonlinear multiplicative effect of trait perspective taking and trait personal distress on volunteering. Discussion focused on the implications of nonlinear, multiplicative trait models of pr osocial behaviors.