The rich are "softer" than the poor, a study of 2.3 million people concludes

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Express newspaper

15/04/2025 21:32

From Bob Cratchit to Charlie Bucket and the Weasley family in the Harry Potter films, poor people are often portrayed as the best and most loved.

This classic depiction has become a common theme in literature and cinema inspired by Charles Dickens's Hard Times.

Meanwhile, the most ruthless characters on the big screen, like Scrooge and Mr. Burns from “The Simpsons,” are usually wealthier.

But a new study suggests that these stereotypes don't hold up.

In fact, it's the rich who show more kindness than the poor - albeit lightly, according to scientists.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 2.3 million people worldwide, spanning a period of five decades.

In general, poorer people show less generous and loving behavior towards others – because they can't afford to be, experts found.

"Scarce resources make it more costly for lower-class individuals to behave prosocially toward others," they say, reports GazetaExpress.

There has been a belief in psychology that people with lower incomes are more loving and generous in strengthening social ties, which can help when times get particularly tough.

On the other hand, it is believed that wealthier people are more loving and generous simply because they can afford it.

Scientists say that different conclusions about these theories can be drawn depending on the "sociocultural contexts" in the world.

To find out more, experts from the Netherlands, China and Germany analyzed the results of 471 independent studies dating back to 1968.

These studies investigated social class (income and education) and “prosocial” behaviors – those that aim to help others or society as a whole.

Prosocial behaviors include helping, sharing, donating, cooperating, volunteering, comforting, and caring for animals.

In total, the data represented more than 2.3 million people – children, adolescents and adults – from 60 societies, including China, the US, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Sweden and Australia.

According to the findings, in general, the higher the social class, the higher the levels of prosocial behavior – supporting the second theory.

According to the study's author, Professor Paul van Lange, a psychologist at the Vrije University in Amsterdam, the difference was small but statistically significant.

The link between higher social class and more prosocial behavior was true across all age groups, societies, continents, and cultural areas.

"Regardless of how we measured social class, we found a small positive association between higher class and better behavior toward others," he told The Times newspaper.

Interestingly, the link between class and prosocial behavior was strongest in situations where others could see the wealthy being charitable.

This suggests that upper-class people want to appear generous, perhaps for some social benefit.

Also, the link was stronger for actual behavior than for stated intention – meaning that people with lower incomes want to be generous, but can't.

Professor van Lange also said it is possible that people from the lower classes are "kinder to those close to them than to people in general".

The new study, led by Junhui Wu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, may help address "structural barriers to prosocial behavior in lower-class individuals."

"This research can inform policymakers and practitioners about potential interventions that can promote cooperation and prosocial behavior across social classes," the authors say.

According to a study last year, whether we exhibit prosocial behavior or not may also depend on whether we slept well the previous night.

Meanwhile, another study found that prosocial behavior in the form of gift-giving can lower blood pressure and heart rate. /Express newspaper/