Perception of helper's autonomous motivation increases recipient's prosocial behaviour intentions via feelings of gratitude

Abstract

Four studies investigated the impact of a recipient's perception of a helper's motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) on the recipient's subsequent prosocial intentions, alongside testing a mediational mechanism. Study 1 employed a questionnaire method to assess the relationships between participants’ lay theories of helper's prosocial motivations (i.e., the degree of autonomy), their dispositional gratitude and their prosocial tendencies. Studies 2–4 manipulated a helper's autonomous versus controlled motivation within hypothetical scenarios (Studies 2 and 3) and within recalled events (Study 4), testing the effect of the helper's motivation on the recipient's prosocial intentions towards the helper (Studies 2–4), a bystander (Study 3) and others in general (Study 4) as well as the mediating role of gratitude. The findings consistently demonstrated that perceiving helpers as having autonomous motivation led to heightened intentions among recipients to engage in prosocial behaviour, which was mediated by increased feelings of gratitude. These effects remained robust after controlling for relevant factors including participants’ demographic information, social desirability bias and perceptions of egoism within helpers. Our findings highlight the role of perceived helper's autonomous motivation on recipient's prosocial behaviours, which enhances the knowledge regarding reciprocity and pay-it-forward behaviour.