The benefits of benevolence: Basic psychological needs, beneficence, and the enhancement of well-being
Journal article
Martela, Frank and Ryan, Richard M.. (2016). The benefits of benevolence: Basic psychological needs, beneficence, and the enhancement of well-being. Journal of Personality. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12215
Authors | Martela, Frank and Ryan, Richard M. |
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Abstract | Pro-social behaviors have been associated with enhanced well-being, but what psychological mechanisms explain this connection? Some theories suggest that beneficence—the sense of being able to give—inherently improves well-being, whereas evidence from self-determination theory (Weinstein & Ryan, 2010) shows that increases in well-being are mediated by satisfaction of innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Here we simultaneously assess these two explanations. Study 1 (N = 335) used a cross-sectional survey with an Internet sample to develop a measure to assess beneficence satisfaction. The next two cross-sectional Internet-sample studies tested mediators between pro-social behavior and general well-being (Study 2, N = 332) and situational peak moment well-being (Study 3, N = 180). A fourth study (N = 85) used a diary method with university students to assess daily fluctuations in well-being associated with needs and beneficence. It was shown across all studies that both the three psychological needs and beneficence satisfaction mediate the relations between pro-social actions and well-being, with all four factors emerging as independent predictors. Together, these studies underscore the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in explaining the well-being benefits of benevolence, and they also point to the independent role of beneficence as a source of human wellness. |
Year | 2016 |
Journal | Journal of Personality |
Publisher | Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12215 |
Research Group | Institute for Positive Psychology and Education |
Publisher's version | File Access Level Controlled |
Place of publication | United Kingdom |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8632q/the-benefits-of-benevolence-basic-psychological-needs-beneficence-and-the-enhancement-of-well-being
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