Jane Allyn Piliavin

Role identity and reasoned action in the prediction of repeated behavior

In this study we compare predictions derivedfrom the theory of reasoned action and identity theory regarding intentions to give blood and blood donation behavior over a seven-month period. Using a sample of 658 blood donors stratified by number of donations, we found that the addition of measures of the importance of the blood donor role identity, of social relations connected to blood donation, and of habit significantly improved the prediction of intentions and donation over the levels provided by the Fishbein-Ajzen model. A developmental analysis suggested that the theory of reasoned action was most effective in predicting intentions and donation for first-time donors. Whereas the full augmented model was most applicable to long-term donors. The results were interpreted to mean that although the Fishbein-Ajzen model may be the most parsimonious model for the prediction of many non-role behaviors, it should be augmented with identity-theory variables for the prediction of established role behaviors.

Role Identity, Organizational Experiences, and Volunteer Performance:

The central focus of this research is on the development and testing of a theoretical framework to understand performance and retention of volunteers. The framework is centered on identity theory and includes both general and specific role identity as well as organizational variables. Data were obtained from two samples of volunteers for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Specific role identity as an ACS volunteer is predicted from general role identity and several factors related to perceived experiences in the organization. Specific role identity explains significant amounts of variance in the number of hours worked for ACS and other organizations as well as intent to remain an ACS volunteer. Results also suggest that volunteers may experience conflicts between the demands of their general and specific role identities. Finally, the effects of ACS role identity on volunteer behavior are compared with those of organizational commitment.

Health Benefits of Volunteering in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study

We investigate positive effects of volunteering on psychological well-being and self-reported health using all four waves of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Confirming previous research, volunteering was positively related to both outcome variables. Both consistency of volunteering over time and diversity of participation are significantly related to well-being and self-reported health. The relationship of volunteering to psychological well-being was moderated by level of social integration, such that those who were less well integrated benefited the most. Mattering appears to mediate the link between volunteering and well-being. Controls for other forms of social participation and for the predictors of volunteering are employed in analyses of well-being in 1992. We find volunteering effects on psychological well-being in 2004, controlling for 1992 well-being, thus providing strong evidence for a causal effect.

Helping Behavior as Role Behavior: Disclosing Social Structure and History in the Analysis of Prosocial Action

Dominant approaches to the study of helping behavior are characterized by an empirical focus on temporally isolated acts of helping with little concern either for social structure or for interactional history. We suggest that Meads conceptualization of role offers a unique theoretical basis for incorporating dimensions of both social structure and history. This conceptualization of role also points to certain circumstances in which role and person merge; the extent of role-person merger has direct implications for action. We hypothesized that the degree of merger between person and a particular role, that of a blood donor, is both distinctfrom and compensatory to more traditional variables such as social and personal norms in its influence on blood donation behavior. We examine this suggestion empirically using a sample of 658 blood donors. Support was found for the three specific predictions derived from this general hypothesis. This approach illustrates the importance of conceptualizing helping behavior as role behavior, facilitating incorporation of both social structural and historical characteristics of such behavior.

The effects of the sex composition of groups on style of social interaction

Baless revised interaction category analyses (1970) were done from audio tapes of 77 four-person discussion groups: 46 mixed-sex groups, 15 female groups, and 16 male groups. Each group discussed three cases for a total of 35 minutes. The hypothesis tested was that females in mixed-sex groups would suppress their level of “task” contribution and engage in higher levels of “socioemotional” contributions when compared to the performance of women in one-sex groups. Males were also predicted to become more sex-role stereotyped in mixed-sex groups, showing the opposite effect. Results showed large sex differences, regardless of group composition, in the direction of traditional sex roles. The effect of group composition, however, was opposite to that predicted. An effect of an experimental intervention during the second discussion topic on subsequent sex-role performance was also found. Implications for education are discussed.

First year donation patterns predict long-term commitment for first-time donors

Background and Objectives  Converting first‐time donors to become regular donors continues to be a challenge facing blood centres. We examined whether first‐time donors with frequent return in the first 12 months were more likely to become regular donors.

What is the Factorial Structure of the Private and Public Self-Consciousness Scales?

The Fenigstein, Scheier, and Buss (1975) private and public self-consciousness scales were administered to two samples of blood donors as part of longitudinal research on commitment to donation: 658 U.S. voluntary donors who were contacted by mail and 256 Polish donors, some paid, some volunteer, who were interviewed. A principal axis factor analysis of the U.S. data extracted essentially the same three-factor solution obtained by Burnkrant and Page (1984) and by Lennox, Welch, Wolfe, Zimmerman, and Dixon (1987), rather than the expected two factors obtained originally by Fenigstein et al. and by Scheier and Carver (1985) in a recent replication. The same two subfactors of the original private self-consciousness scale were found in the Polish data. These two subscales correlate in opposite directions with a measure of identity seeking in both data sets, and with self-esteem in the Polish data. Further conceptual and psychometric work to clarify the importance of this factorial structure is suggested.

On willingness to be a bone marrow donor

The authors studied factors that may influence the willingness of apheresis donors to consider bone marrow donation to an unrelated recipient. Donors were sent questionnaires describing bone marrow transplantation and the role of the donor. The information about degree of risk to the donor was varied from low to high risk. Two other factors that might influence donor motivation also were presented: probability of actually being asked to participate (high or low), and “salience of responsibility,” which defines the stress to donate based on the number of persons being asked (large or small group). The degree of risk presented strongly affected willingness to volunteer, but the two motivation factors had no effect. The factor of risk negatively affected women more than men, and negatively affected those with family responsibilities more than single donors. Other findings were: 1) men were more willing then women to donate marrow; 2) those with few donations were among the most willing; and 3) those who knew others who had either needed or provided blood products were also among the most willing.

Altruism and Helping: The Evolution of a Field--The 2008 Cooley-Mead Presentation.

I present a selective history of the evolution of the study of altruism and helping behavior, using a series of questions and answers. Some of the topics covered include the motives for helping, the origins of helping and altruism in evolution and child development, the relationship of organizations to helping, and the psychological and health consequences for the helper. A framework within which to view the current structure of the field is presented, and a challenge is issued for scholars in the areas of social movements and helping behavior to come together to synthesize the two fields.I present a selective history of the evolution of the study of altruism and helping behavior, using a series of questions and answers. Some of the topics covered include the motives for helping, the origins of helping and altruism in evolution and child development, the relationship of organizations to helping, and the psychological and health consequences for the helper. A framework within which to view the current structure of the field is presented, and a challenge is issued for scholars in the areas of social movements and helping behavior to come together to synthesize the two fields.

Learning to “Give to Unnamed Strangers”

In 1971, Richard Titmuss published a book called The Gift Relationship in which he compared the British and American blood collection and distribution systems. Speaking of the British system, which is based entirely on the voluntary Community donor, he described such donation as “a free gift of blood to unnamed strangers” (p. 239). In this chapter, we shall describe several aspects of a large-scale research project in which we are trying to understand how individuals in Madison, Wisconsin (where the donation system is also based on the voluntary Community donor) develop and maintain the moyivations and habots underlying sustained, repeated, regylar blood donation.Again, quoting Titmuss, “How can they and how do tey learn to give to unnamed strangers, irrespective of race, relirion, or colour?” (p.12).