Investigating the roles of self-esteem, recognition, and known individuals in altruistic behavior among college females

Prosocial behavior is dependent upon several factors. The present study investigated a possible connection between self-esteem and altruistic behavior among college females. Additionally, the study investigated if the presence of recognition and a known individual are essential for altruistic behavior to occur. The study's design was a 2 (Recognition: Present or Absent) x 2 (Altruism: Physical or Financial) x 2 (Individual: Known or Unknown) mixed design with self-esteem serving as an additional, continuously scored independent variable. Although results did not support the hypotheses, a significant interaction between recognition and altruism showed women helped more financially than physically when recognition was absent as well as helped more physically than financially when recognition was present. A significant interaction between recognition and individual showed that women helped unknown more than known persons regardless of recognition. A significant interaction between self-esteem and individual showed that lower self-esteem women helped unknown more than known persons, but higher self-esteem women proved the opposite. A significant interaction between recognition, altruism, and individual showed that the presence of recognition was important except when helping a known person financially. Future research should investigate various personality traits, gender differences, age groups, and types of individuals.