The Truths Behind Why People Give

Researchers Stephan Dickert, Namika Sagara and Paul Slovic found that donor emotion definitely ruled. The best predictor of the decision to donate anything at all was how the participants were feeling about themselves — for example, a desire to make themselves feel better or avoid regret about not donating. When they heard about the pain or need of sick children, they wanted to leave those negative feelings behind by making donations.