How Social Class Predicts Prosocial Spending? The Role of Responsibility and Awe

Abstract

Prosocial spending is a specific type of prosocial behavior. The relationship between social class and prosocial behavior has been widely invested, but the link between social class and prosocial spending has been under-explored, and the findings have been inconsistent. This study employs a multi-method design, utilizing a large-scale panel secondary dataset, a survey, three experiments, and a single-paper meta-analysis to systematically explore whether social class affects an individual's prosocial spending and the role of sense of responsibility and awe in this relationship. The results consistently suggest that subjective social class positively effects individuals' prosocial spending, whereas objective social class has no effect. The relationship between subjective social class and prosocial spending was mediated via sense of responsibility. Moreover, awe has also moderated the mediating effect of a sense of responsibility between subjective social class and prosocial spending. The findings deepen the understanding of the relationship between social class and prosocial spending.