Abstract
This is the first empirical investigation of blood donations in evolutionary perspective. We examine blood donor and non-donor attitudes about health and injury risks, donor characteris- tics, and the social value of donor participation. We propose that blood donations may communi- cate qualities about donors to third parties. Observers may benefit from information about the do- nor's health, value as a reciprocal partner, and/or ability to endure what is perceived as an anxi- ety-provoking and risky experience. Donors may benefit from an enhanced reputation, which can lead to greater access to cooperative networks and high-quality partners. We found that partici- pants recognized the need for blood and perceived blood donors as generous and healthy. Study results indicated that anxiety and the perceived risk of a negative health consequence dramatically affected the willingness of donors and non-donors to donate blood in the future. These findings support our hypothesis that the act of blood donation may signal adaptive information about do- nor quality to third parties.
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