When neoliberals become activists: social crisis threats motivate ingroup and outgroup prosociality among neoliberals.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

People who support neoliberal beliefs (i.e., who believe in individual responsibility and meritocracy) are less motivated to collectively act against social inequality or help those in need. At the same time, economic and humanitarian crises put a spotlight on injustice and harm. They represent an existential threat to people and should thus motivate prosocial behavior in line with salient humanitarian values.

Methods

We conducted two experimental studies. Study 1 (N = 175) made an economic crisis salient. Study 2 (N = 205), conducted four weeks after the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, made the associated humanitarian crisis salient.

Results

We found raising people's awareness of a social crisis (compared to a non-threatening control conditi

SUBMITTER: Stollberg J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12634635 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature