Who Deserves Help? Students' Opinions About the Deservingness of Different Groups Living in Germany to Receive Aid

Abstract

A study was conducted examining German students' attitudes toward different groups of people living in Germany and the influence of those attitudes on the willingness to distribute aid to groups in need. A survey was distributed to over 2000 students at universities across Germany. It was predicted that groups judged more responsible for their need of aid and less likable would be considered less deserving of receiving aid than groups judged less responsible for their need of aid and more likable. An effect of the Belief in a Just World was also expected such that, students with a weak Belief in a Just World would judge targets as more deserving of aid than students with a strong Belief in a Just World. Results indicate effects of likability, responsibility for neediness, and the Belief in a Just World on ratings of deservingness.