Purpose Understanding volunteers’ motivations is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of volunteering. While prior research has largely focused on other-oriented motivations, studies on self-oriented motivation remain limited and report conflicting findings. By integrating self-actualisation theory with the functional approach, this study proposes a moderated mediation model with double-edged effects to examine when and how self-oriented motivation influences voluntary behaviour in humanitarian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Design/methodology/approach Regression analysis and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) were employed to analyse data collected from 426 Iranian NGO volunteers. Findings The results reveal double-edged effects. While self-oriented motives negatively influence voluntary behaviour, non-profit public service motivation (NPSM) partially mediated this relationship, producing a positive indirect effect. In addition, collectivism moderates these relationships by strengthening the link between self-oriented motivation and NPSM, while weakening its association with voluntary behaviour. Originality/value This study provides a novel perspective on self-oriented motivation by applying a moderated mediation framework that captures its complex and dual nature. The findings advance theoretical understanding of volunteer behaviour and offer practical insights for social service management, particularly in volunteer recruitment and retention strategies within NGOs.

Purpose This study frames sustainable consumption as a dimension of social responsibility and investigates how economic constraints, infrastructural asymmetries, consumer values (environmental and egoistic) and the informal market influence both individual choices and access to sustainable food systems. Focusing on a developing-country context, the study aims to examine the contextual determinants shaping the intention–behavior relationship in sustainable food consumption. In doing so, it addresses a research gap by extending insights beyond the predominance of studies conducted in developed economies. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 645 consumers of organic food in southern Brazil using a mixed sampling strategy comprising in-person surveys at an organic fair and an online questionnaire distributed via social media. To test the conceptual model, data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SPSS and SmartPLS software. Findings Environmental values positively affect attitudes, whereas egoistic values negatively influence them. Attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control significantly predict intention. Locavorism strengthens, whereas price sensitivity and convenience orientation weaken the intention–behavior relationship. These results indicate that sustainable food behavior in developing economies is shaped not only by personal attitudes but also by structural conditions limiting equitable participation in sustainable consumption. Practical implications Strengthening local food networks through institutional support and policy interventions can enhance equitable access to sustainable options. Reducing certification costs, improving short supply chains and investing in logistical infrastructure are essential measures to remove systemic barriers and promote inclusive sustainable consumption. Social implications This study positions sustainable food practices as a social responsibility issue, showing how consumer behavior intersects with broader equity concerns. Addressing affordability and convenience constraints is essential to ensure that sustainable options are accessible to all socio-economic groups, rather than remaining exclusive privileges. Originality/value By examining the intention–behavior gap in a developing-market context and situating it within systemic constraints such as affordability, infrastructure and informal retail channels, this research contributes to a more inclusive and socially responsible understanding of sustainable consumption. The findings provide context-specific insights that extend existing models of consumer behavior and inform policy and managerial strategies in emerging economies. Future research could extend the egoistic value construct by incorporating food-specific self-oriented motives, such as health consciousness or status-driven consumption.

Abstract In past research on other-related and self-related motives for volunteering, other-related motives have been associated with higher wellbeing. However, some theories of motivation would suggest that self-oriented motives, notably immediate experiential rewards, will co-occur with other-oriented motivation for older adults engaging in prosocial activity. We report research that contributes to the understanding of motivation, prosociality, and well-being in three ways. We examined the conjunction of self- and other-oriented motives in addition to their separate occurrence, and compared how these motives were linked to well-being. Because prosocial behavior, motivation, and well-being fluctuate intra-individually, we examined their relationship using the experience sampling method. Finally, given challenges with researcher classification of volunteering motives as self- or other-oriented, we studied participant-reported motives. Data came from a sample of older, high-commitment volunteers and leaders in social-purpose programs in the US (n of responses=5,501; N = 165, 58% female, age: M = 71.1, SD = 5.7). Consistent with past research, in moments when only other-oriented motivation was reported, positive correlates including eudaimonic well-being and positive affect were higher than when only self-oriented motivation was reported. Notably, a similar pattern held on occasions when other-oriented motivation co-occurred with self-oriented motivation. Theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed.

IntroductionAmong dual-smoking couples, both partners have smoking-related motivations that may either facilitate or hinder cessation efforts. Existing research typically focuses on individual-level motivation, which may be inadequate for capturing aspects of concordance and discrepancy. This study characterized couples’ motivational profiles and examined their associations with smoking cessation outcomes.MethodsWe conducted secondary analyses from a randomized controlled pilot study of 95 dual-smoking couples to examine how dyadic motivations to quit smoking predicted individual and joint point-prevalence abstinence at 3 months. Both partners reported their own motivation to quit (self-oriented) and their motivation for their partner to quit (partner-oriented). We examined dyadic motivation to quit smoking on abstinence across four goal characterizations: (1) Parallel Goals (partners’ self-oriented motivations), (2) System-Oriented Goals (an individual’s self- and partner-oriented motivation), (3) Shared Target Goals (both partners’ motivation for one individual to quit), and (4) Parallel Partner-Oriented Goals (each partner’s motivation for the other to quit). Using response surface analyses with logistic regression, we estimated the effects of alignment (a1) and misalignment (a2) in the couples'’ motivation levels on individual and joint cessation outcomes.ResultsFor individual cessation, quitting odds were higher when self-motivation or partner-oriented motivation aligned within the couple (Parallel goals: a1 = 0.725; Shared Target goals: a1 = 0.881; Parallel Partner-Oriented goals: a1 = 0.729), when self-motivation exceeded partner’s self-motivation (Parallel goals: a3 = 0.453), or exceeded partner-oriented motivation (System-Oriented goals: a3 = 1.094). Joint quitting was more likely when both partners had high self-motivation (Parallel goals: a1 = 0.918), high self- and partner-oriented motivation (System-Oriented goals: a1 = 0.310), high shared motivation for one partner to quit (Shared Target goals: a1 = 0.673), or high partner-oriented motivation for each other (Parallel Partner-Oriented goals: a1 = 0.965). All effects were statistically significant (P < .05).ConclusionThe findings highlight the role of dyadic motivations in predicting individual and dyadic abstinence among dual-smoking couples. Couple-based interventions that aim to increase and align partners’ motivations to quit could improve cessation outcomes in this population.

Although prior research suggests that firms with a poor reputation should improve it before embarking on crowdsourcing, some companies have succeeded without doing so. This research thus examines when and why companies with poor reputations can successfully implement crowdsourcing for marketing outputs (e.g., new product concepts, creative ideas). Through four online experiments (including two with consumers of real companies), the authors demonstrate that market competitive intensity serves as a key boundary condition: Consumers are more likely to participate in crowdsourcing hosted by firms with poor reputations operating in markets with limited competition. The findings show that firm-oriented motivation is crucial in driving participation in low-competition markets, whereas self-oriented motivation dominates in highly competitive environments, with downstream effects on participation and brand attachment. Results further show that in low-competition markets, existing customers participate readily without financial incentives, while noncustomers require rewards for participation. This research challenges conventional assumptions about prerequisites for crowdsourcing success and demonstrates that crowdsourcing can serve as an effective reputation repair mechanism, particularly when alternatives are limited. It also provides strategic guidance for firms on both implementing crowdsourcing and framing related messages, based on their market and reputation contexts.

The prevailing viewpoint has long depicted employee time theft as inherently detrimental. However, this perspective may stem from a limited understanding of the underlying motives that drive such behavior. Time theft can paradoxically be motivated by neutral and even laudable intentions, such as promoting work efficiency, thus rendering it potentially beneficial and constructive. Across three mixed-methods studies, we explore the motives behind employee time theft, develop and validate an instrument to assess these motives, and examine how they differentially predict time theft behavior. Specifically, in Study 1, we use a qualitative method and identify 11 types of time theft motives. Study 2 embarks on the development of measures of these motives, subsequently validating their factor structure. Study 3 examines their incremental variance in predicting time theft behavior by controlling for personality and demographic variables. Overall, these studies reveal that employees' engagement in time theft can be driven not solely by self-oriented motives but also by others- and work-oriented motives. Further, each of these motives provides incremental value in understanding time theft behavior. Implications for both research and practice emanating from these findings are also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Abstract The global expansion of higher education has led to an increased enrollment of first-generation students, presenting opportunities and challenges for institutions. Despite efforts to support these students, they often face lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates. Among the factors influencing student success, the sense of belonging has emerged as a critical determinant. This study reports the validation of the Spanish version of the Sense of Social and Academic Fit (SSF) scale in the context of a private university in Santiago, Chile, with a predominantly first-year student sample. The psychometric evaluations of the scale included: (i) factor structure, (ii) internal consistency, and (iii) association with several individual (e.g., history of academic achievement in high school, grit, self-control, motives for attending college) and contextual factors (e.g., parents´ education background, attendance to private, subsidized and state schools, financing higher education). Results indicated a multifactor structure, with three underlying factors identified as a Sense of belonging, a Sense of educational alienation, and a Sense of affinity. Internal consistency for all subscales and the total scale was good. Association analyses found that private school dependency was positively associated with the SSF total score, and the extrinsic self-oriented motives subscale was negatively associated with the SSF total score. This study contributes to the literature by examining the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SSF scale in a Latin American context.

Understanding the desire for green consumption: Norms, emotions, and attitudes

Previous research shows that being in a situation of economic scarcity promotes a more concrete mindset that motivates behavioral decisions based on action difficulty and their short-term outcomes, which frequently entails negative consequences. However, a concrete mindset can be counteracted by inducing an abstract mindset to help people focus on final broad goals. We explored how focusing on transcendent motives (vs. self-oriented) promotes a more abstract mindset facilitating prosocial behavioral intentions. Study 1 (pre-post design) explored whether focusing on transcendent motives for engaging in activities promoted a more abstract mindset compared to focusing on self-oriented motives. Using a 2 × 2 design with two consecutive opposing primes, Study 2 tested how inducing a transcendent orientation could reverse the effect caused by perceiving economic scarcity, promoting greater orientation toward others and prosocial behavioral intentions. In Study 1 participants who generated transcendent motives for behaviors presented a greater increase in the abstraction of construal level, compared to those who only generated self-oriented motives for the same behaviors. Study 2 demonstrated that, when participants who perceived economic scarcity were focused on transcendent motives (vs. self-oriented) to promote a more abstract mindset, their orientation toward others increased. Interestingly, for people perceiving economic scarcity, whose own difficulties could reduce prosocial behaviors, the greater orientation toward others promoted a greater intention to engage in demanding prosocial behaviors. We provide evidence of new strategies to promote abstraction in individuals and increase their involvement in prosocial behavioral intentions, especially for those perceiving economic scarcity.

Examining the acceptability and likelihood of self-centered and other-centered lying using the HEXACO

Abstract This article proposes the conceptual model called the Situational Self-Orientation Model of Digital Publics (SOMP) as an extension of the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS). The model aims to explain the digital publics’ communicative behaviors. It suggests five propositions by introducing three different working self-concepts (individual, relational, and collective self) on the issue. The different self-concepts affect involvement recognition and induce different self-oriented motivations (self-interest, interpersonal, and intragroup motivations) and self-oriented communication (I-oriented, You-oriented, and Us/Them-oriented communicative actions). The model is expected to provide theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the digital publics’ communication behaviors better.

The purpose of this study is to examine and verify whether social capital modulates the relationship between motivation for social participation and depression in the elderly. To this end, data were collected through a questionnaire survey targeting elderly people aged 65 or older in the Jeonbuk area, and responses were collected from 414 people. Among them, the response data from 395 people were analyzed by a controlled regression equation using the SPSS 25.0 statistical program, and a simple slope test was performed. . The analysis results are as follows. First, as the relationship-oriented motivation among the elderly's social participation motivation increased, the elderly's depression decreased. Second, as social capital increased, depression in the elderly decreased. Third, as a result of verifying the moderating effect of social capital in the relationship where the elderly's social participation motivation (self-oriented motivation, relationship-oriented motivation, social-oriented motivation) affects depression in the elderly, the group with high social capital is the group with low social capital. In comparison, social participation motives (self-oriented motives, relationship-oriented motives) had a greater influence on depression in the elderly. Based on this, it was confirmed that social capital modulates the effect of the elderly's social participation motivation (self-oriented motivation, relationship-oriented motivation) on depression in the elderly. Based on these results, practical and policy suggestions were made on ways to provide social participation opportunities for the improvement of depression in the elderly, ways to form a social support network, and social participation activities for the elderly that can be applied at the community level.

Service firms are increasingly trying to make their offers more sustainable. In this paper, we contribute to the literature on sustainability in service by investigating the impact of the shopping channel on consumer purchases of alternatives labeled as environmentally and socially sustainable. We theorize that the salience of self-oriented (vs. other-oriented) motives in the online (vs. in-store) channel has a higher fit with self-oriented (vs. other-oriented) benefits signaled by environmental (vs. social) labels, especially for utilitarian (vs. hedonic) products. To test this expectation, we conduct three studies using real-world grocery and beauty retailer datasets that include almost 900,000 purchases either in-store (“bricks”) or online (“clicks”). Using both between-consumer and within-consumer analysis, we find empirical support for our hypotheses. Our conceptual framework and findings suggest that service firms that want to promote environmentally and socially sustainable alternatives will benefit from adapting their strategies to different domains of sustainability labels and shopping channels.

A New Understanding of the Role of Self-oriented Motivations in the Creation of Social Enterprises

From a social psychology perspective, this study explored the personal and social psychological motivation of Retaliatory Justice. This study constructed a four-dimensional model of the psychological motivation of Retaliatory Justice from the two dimensions of "Self vs. Society" and "Identity vs. Resource." They were Identity-Based Self-Oriented Motivation (Pacifying Outrage), Resource-Based Self-Oriented Motivation (Occupying Resource), Identity-Based Society-Oriented Motivation (Value Confirmation), and Resource-Based Society-Oriented Motivation (Deterrence and Control). In this study, 497 sets of valid data were extracted from 6 universities in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, using 3 sets of situational experiments and the "Questionnaire Star" online survey platform as a vehicle to explore the personal motivations and psychosocial motivations of Retaliatory Justice. The empirical results showed that the situational experiment significantly verified the existence of Pacifying Outrage and Value Confirmation, and partially verified the existence of Deterrence and Control and Occupying Resource. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only the effect of Pacifying Outrage on Retaliatory Justice showed a main effect, and the interaction between Pacifying Outrage and Deterrence and Control was not significant. Pacifying Outrage significantly affects Retaliatory Justice, while Occupying Resource significantly affects Retaliatory Justice, but the interaction between the two was not significant. Value Confirmation significantly affects Retaliatory Justice. Value Confirmation and Deterrence and Control synergistically affect Retaliatory Justice, but Deterrence and Control had no significant effect on Retaliatory Justice. Taking emotions as clues, this paper discussed the realistic value of the rheological paths of the psychological motivation of Retaliatory Justice, which brought enlightenment to the improvement of social morality, the cultivation of judicial trust, and the construction of psychological service system.

This study examines factors affecting social entrepreneurs’ passion, focusing on their motives, job stress, and perceived work competence. The analysis of the survey data of 264 self-identified social entrepreneurs working in different types of organizations reveals that other-oriented motives are strongly associated with passion while self-oriented motives are not. The results also show that job stress is negatively correlated with social entrepreneurs’ passion. When the perceived work competence is included as a mediator, however, it alters the nature of the job stress-passion relationship, suggesting that job stress can positively affect social entrepreneurs’ passion when they perceive a high level of competence. The findings also suggest that perceived work competence reinforces the positive relationship between other-oriented motives and passion. This paper concludes with practical implications for social entrepreneurship education.

Charitable organizations play a key role in society but face the recurrent challenge of obtaining sufficient resources to accomplish their missions. The regular donor portfolio becomes a critical element in providing stable and long-lasting funding, and its effective management has emerged as a key research area. This study investigates the impact of the donation frequency by regular donors on their donation amount over time. Drawing from temporal reframing literature, we provide an understanding of these effects as well as the moderating role of the motivations to donate (self- vs other-oriented). The study also investigates the extent to which frequency choices are influenced by the motivations to donate and by the donation options presented during registration. Using a sample of regular donors from 2013 to 2019 and applying dynamic panel data techniques, the findings reveal that higher frequencies lead to higher donations, though this effect is strengthened by self-oriented motivations and weakened by other-oriented motivations. Our study shows that motivations to donate and donation options jointly explain donation frequencies. This study provides useful guidance for charities on how to increase regular donors’ perceived value and their contributions to help these organizations provide essential services to the most vulnerable groups in society.

목적 자원봉사자의 동기부여가 자원봉사활동 만족도의 관계에서 자원봉사활동 만족도를 증가시키는 요인을 알아보고자 문헌 고찰을 하였고, 이를 바탕으로 본 연구에서는 자원봉사자의 동기부여(자기지향적 동기, 타인지향적 동기)와 자원봉사활동 만족도의 관계에서 자원봉사활동 만족도를 더욱 증가시키는 요인으로 친사회적 행동을 선정하였고, 그 관계가 성별의 조절에 따라 달라질 수 있는지 확인하기 위해 조절된 매개효과 모형을 검증하였다. 방법 본 연구는 경기도를 중심으로 자원봉사 경험이 있는 사람을 대상으로 온라인 설문을 통해 설문조사를 실시하였으며, 응답자 총 661명의 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS 프로그램을 활용하여 기술통계분석 및 상관관계 분석, 위계적 회귀분석, PROCESS macro 모형검증을 시행하였다. 결과 연구결과를 보면 첫째, 자원봉사자의 동기부여(자기지향적 동기, 타인지향적 동기)와 자원봉사활동 만족도의 간에 친사회적 행동의 매개효과가 유의하였으며, 부분매개효과를 나타냈다 둘째, 자원봉사자의 타인지향적 동기와 친사회적 행동, 자원봉사활동 만족도의 간에 성별(남자, 여자)의 조절된 매개효과가 유의하였다. 성별(남자)의 조절효과를 보면, 자원봉사자의 타인지향적 동기가 친사회적 행동으로 가는 직접 영향을 조절하여 자원봉사활동 만족도에 미치는 영향이 성별(남자)의 조절 수준이 높아질수록 자원봉사활동 만족도가 서서히 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 반면, 성별(여자)의 조절효과를 보면, 자원봉사자의 타인지향적 동기가 친사회적 행동으로 가는 직접 영향을 조절하여 자원봉사활동 만족도에 미치는 영향이 성별(여자)의 조절 수준이 높아질수록 자원봉사활동 만족도가 서서히 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 본 연구 결과를 바탕으로 본 연구의 결과가 연구에 주는 의의와 실제 자원봉사 현장에서 성별에 맞는 친사회적 행동 및 자원봉사활동 만족도를 높이는 방안을 논의하였다.

Science can improve life around the world, but public trust in science is at risk. Understanding the presumed motives of scientists and science can inform the social psychological underpinnings of public trust in science. Across five independent datasets, perceiving the motives of science and scientists as prosocial promoted public trust in science. In Studies 1 and 2, perceptions that science was more prosocially oriented were associated with greater trust in science. Studies 3 and 4a & 4b employed experimental methods to establish that perceiving other-oriented motives, versus self-oriented motives, enhanced public trust in science. Respondents recommend greater funding allocations for science subdomains described as prosocially oriented versus power-oriented. Emphasizing the prosocial aspects of science can build stronger foundations of public trust in science.

BackgroundAs population aging progresses, volunteers in health field are expected to play a key role in health promotion and disease prevention, which may improve community residents’ health and well-being and at the same time help slow the growth of healthcare cost. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of self-oriented motives and altruistic motives as explanatory factors for Japanese Community Health Workers (CHWs)’ desire to continue their service. Unraveling the relative effects of these two types of motivation on CHW retention may lead to policy and practical implications for recruiting, training, and supporting CHWs in Japan. Haddad (2007) observed that citizens in Japan generally have a sense of governmental and individual responsibility for dealing with social problems. Applying these insights to CHWs, we hypothesize that altruistic motives have more potent influence on volunteers’ willingness to continue to serve than self-oriented motives.MethodsThree cities in Shiga prefecture, Japan agreed to participate in the study. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all CHWs who work in the three communities. The survey data were collected in March and April, 2013. A total of 417 questionnaires were mailed to CHWs, of which 346 were completed and returned (response rate 83.0%). Nine questionnaires missing response to the question concerning willingness to continue serving were removed from the analysis. The final analysis used 337 questionnaires (effective response rate 80.8%).ResultsOne hundred ninety-nine (59.1%) of the respondents answered the question about willingness to continue CHW affirmatively, and 138 (40.9%) negatively. Controlling for other relevant factors, those with self-oriented motives in serving as CHWs were more likely to state they are willing to continue to serve (OR:1.54, confidence interval 1.00–2.37) than those without such motives. Those with altruistic motives were also more likely to say they want to continue their service (OR 1.56, confidence interval 1.08–2.27) than those without such motives. Contrary to our hypothesis, the two motives, altruistic and self-oriented, were shown to have nearly equal degree of influence on respondents’ willingness to continue serving as CHWs.ConclusionOne practical implication of the research is that learning more about the twin motives, self-oriented and altruistic, of volunteers and tailoring the content of CHW training by municipal health professionals to address those motives may be beneficial.