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Acute hunger does not always undermine prosociality

Author

Listed:
  • Jan A. Häusser

    (Justus-Liebig-University Gießen)

  • Christina Stahlecker

    (Justus-Liebig-University Gießen)

  • Andreas Mojzisch

    (University of Hildesheim)

  • Johannes Leder

    (University of Bamberg)

  • Paul A. M. Lange

    (VU Amsterdam
    Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA))

  • Nadira S. Faber

    (University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
    University of Oxford, Suite 8, Littlegate House
    University of Exeter, Washington Singer Building)

Abstract

It has been argued that, when they are acutely hungry, people act in self-protective ways by keeping resources to themselves rather than sharing them. In four studies, using experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational designs (total N = 795), we examine the effects of acute hunger on prosociality in a wide variety of non-interdependent tasks (e.g. dictator game) and interdependent tasks (e.g. public goods games). While our procedures successfully increase subjective hunger and decrease blood glucose, we do not find significant effects of hunger on prosociality. This is true for both decisions incentivized with money and with food. Meta-analysis across all tasks reveals a very small effect of hunger on prosociality in non-interdependent tasks (d = 0.108), and a non-significant effect in interdependent tasks (d = −0.076). In study five (N = 197), we show that, in stark contrast to our empirical findings, people hold strong lay theories that hunger undermines prosociality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan A. Häusser & Christina Stahlecker & Andreas Mojzisch & Johannes Leder & Paul A. M. Lange & Nadira S. Faber, 2019. "Acute hunger does not always undermine prosociality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-12579-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12579-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Lilavati Krishnan, 2022. "The Scarcity–Prosociality Link: Ambiguous, Yet Thought-provoking," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 34(1), pages 79-103, March.
    2. Gidlöf, Kerstin & Lahm, Erik Stoltenberg & Wallin, Annika & Otterbring, Tobias, 2021. "Eco depletion: The impact of hunger on prosociality by means of environmentally friendly attitudes and behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

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