Anonymous Altruism: Extending the Lost Letter Technique

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Abstract
Two hypotheses were tested regarding the factors that determine altruistic behavior when both the helper and the helped remain unknown, with the use of a modification of the lost-letter technique in which post cards are inscribed with messages of varying content. It was predicted that altruistic behavior—i.e., the return of the post cards—would be greater when (a) the message was important as opposed to unimportant, and (b) the content of the message was good rather than bad. Only the first prediction was supported, suggesting that under conditions of anonymity the positive or negative aspect of the message is not as crucial as it is in face-to-face situations previously studied.

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