Dynamics of helping behavior and cooperation across culture

Abstract

Prior research shows variation in helping behavior across culture due to cultural differences in values, perceptions, and motivations [12]. Our study extends on past research by examining how culture and fusion with one's culture influences helping behavior (help request and help given) when interacting with a cooperative versus non-cooperative counterpart. Canadian, Chinese and Indian participants engaged in an intracultural dyadic interaction using a virtual decision making game, FireSim, where they had to protect their village and its assets from seasonal fires with the option of requesting help and/or providing help to a neighboring village (counterpart). The results illustrate that Canadians (individualists) were less influenced by the situation, as their helping behavior was not significantly affected by partner's helping behavior, compared to Chinese and Indian individuals (collectivists). Moreover, Canadians were less likely to request for help but overall received more help compared to individuals from collectivistic cultures. We also found that the more a person was fused with his or her culture, the more likely that individual would provide help, if partner was cooperative. Potential implications and further research for inter-cultural helping behavior is discussed.