Giving versus acting: Using latent profile analysis to distinguish between benevolent and activist support for global poverty reduction

Abstract

There are a variety of ways that people can respond to inequality. This article considers the distinction between collective giving and collective acting, but also adopts a focus on the people who engage in those behaviours. Benevolent supporters engage in efforts to alleviate suffering through the transfer of money or provision of goods (‘giving’), while activist supporters engage in actions that aim to challenging an underlying injustice or exploitation (‘acting’). Using samples obtained through anti‐poverty non‐governmental organizations (N = 2,340), latent profile analysis suggested two qualitatively different forms of support for global poverty reduction: a benevolent supporter profile (defined by moderate levels of charitable support) and an activist supporter profile (defined by engagement in a suite of socio‐political actions). The two forms of support are predicted by different appraisals for, emotional reactions to (outrage v sympathy), and social change beliefs about, global injustice. Results highlight the theoretical and practical importance of considering subgroup differences in how social justice is pursued.

Revisiting the difference between instrumental and terminal values to predict (stimulating) prosocial behaviours: The transcendental‐change profile

“…Here, we propose that the activation, via either salience or centrality, of transcendental‐change values profile may lead to sensitivity to the welfare of the world at large, awareness of (stimulating) viable actions to promote it, and perceiving oneself as both able and responsible to take those actions. This can be useful to anticipate and promote the performance of complex and relatively exceptional prosocial behaviours labelled as political activism (Thomas & McGarty, ; Vecchione et al ., ) and social entrepreneurship (see also the relevant distinction between benevolent givers and social activists coined by Thomas & McGarty, , ).…”

The Volatility of Collective Action: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Data

“…For example, Thomas and McGarty (2018) make a distinction between collective action as a form of victim-focused benevolence and collective actions that are taken with a system-change-focused activist orientation. In a sample of people who identified as supporters of the cause of ending global poverty, both forms of action were associated with stronger opinion-based group identities, consistent with the research reviewed above.…”

Emerging research on intergroup prosociality: Group members' charitable giving, positive contact, allyship, and solidarity with others

“…Yet this approach masks the reality that different groups of people can share the same goals but make dramatically different decisions about the most appropriate means to act (see also Sweetman, Leach, Spears, Pratto, & Saab, ). In the current contribution, we elaborate a broad distinction between two different orientations to engaging in intergroup prosociality (see Thomas & McGarty, , ). The first is benevolence—a behavioral orientation towards compassionately alleviating the suffering of others.…”

“…Yet while a strong version of the activism/benevolence distinction presupposes different people engage in different behaviors to help different recipients of their aid, we ourselves expect that benevolence and activism can also co‐occur, because people may have multiple motives. For example, Thomas and McGarty () examined a large sample of people registered on the mailing lists of international aid and development nongovernmental organizations. Using latent profile analysis, two profiles of supporters were identified: a benevolent supporter profile in which members engaged in substantial levels of donation and purchased fair trade products regularly and an activist profile in which supporters engaged in similar levels of donation but also frequently attempted directly to influence the political process surrounding international aid by lobbying members of parliament, signing petitions, and attending rallies.…”