ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING: A META-ANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of this analysis is to determine meta-analytically whether or not being altruistic leads to flourishing. The literature examining the relationship between different forms of altruistic behavior and flourishing is expansive and varied enough to warrant a meta-analysis in order to establish systematically (a) whether or not the relationship between altruism and well-being is positive, (b) the strength of that relationship, and (c) whether or not the relationship between altruism and flourishing is causal. Analyses revealed that altruism was significantly positively correlated with both positive affect and life satisfaction, and that altruism is causally related to positive affect. Additionally, the size of the sacrifice made by the altruist did not moderate the relationship between altruism and flourishing for either positive affect or life satisfaction. The implications of these results as they relate to domain-specific virtues are discussed.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Velasquez, Kassidy Renae

• Altruism

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/59303

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/59303