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Searching for meaning is associated with costly prosociality

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  • Brodie C Dakin
  • Simon M Laham
  • Nicholas Poh-Jie Tan
  • Brock Bastian

Abstract

The study of meaning in life has largely centered on its relationship with personal well-being, while a focus on how meaning is related to enhancing the well-being of others has received less research attention. Although searching for meaning may imply lower personal well-being, we find that meaning-seekers are more motivated to perform costly prosocial actions for the sake of others’ well-being, given the perceived meaningfulness of these behaviors. Studies 1–4 (N = 780) show that meaning-seeking correlates with the motivation to engage in a range of costly prosocial behaviors. Meaning-seeking is further shown to be distinct from pursuing happiness in its relationship with costly prosociality (Study 2 & 3) and to share a stronger association with high-cost than low-cost prosociality (Study 3 & 4). Study 5 (N = 370; pre-registered) further shows that the search for meaning is related to costly prosocial behavior in the recent past. While our studies are cross-sectional, the pattern of findings suggests that seeking meaning (rather than happiness) may play an important role in motivating altruistic tendencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Brodie C Dakin & Simon M Laham & Nicholas Poh-Jie Tan & Brock Bastian, 2021. "Searching for meaning is associated with costly prosociality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(10), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0258769
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258769
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hong Zhang & Zhiqin Sang & Changkai Chen & Jiawei Zhu & Weijing Deng, 2018. "Need for Meaning, Meaning Confusion, Meaning Anxiety, and Meaning Avoidance: Additional Dimensions of Meaning in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 191-212, January.
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