In a cross-national behavioural experiment, we examined how providing information about negative externalities and making decisions observable influence prosocial behaviour. Across countries, we found that knowledge of negative externalities (as compared with opportunities for ignorance) robustly increased prosociality, and that guilt-prone individuals were more responsive to information about these negative consequences of their actions.
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This is a summary of: Molho, C. et al. Guilt drives prosociality across 20 countries. Nat. Hum. Behav. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02286-3 (2025).
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Wilfully ignoring inconvenient information decreases prosociality across diverse cultures. Nat Hum Behav 9, 2008–2009 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02287-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02287-2