Does gratitude moderate the bystander effect? A registered report
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The prosocial function of gratitude is well-established in bilateral situations. However, its role in situations with multiple potential benefactors is unclear. As the number of potential benefactors increases, prosocial decisions become more complex due to the diffusion of responsibility and uncertainty about others’ intentions. In this registered report, we examined whether gratitude promotes prosocial behaviour in situations with multiple potential benefactors and whether it moderates the inhibitory effect of their increasing number. Participants (N = 867) were randomly assigned to gratitude, calm, or neutral conditions. They decided whether to allocate resources to a beneficiary in the presence of one, three, or five potential benefactors. The results demonstrated the bystander effect, showing that prosocial behaviour declined as the number of potential benefactors increased. Although gratitude promoted prosocial behaviour, it did not moderate the inhibitory effect of increasing the number of potential benefactors on prosocial behaviour. These findings reveal the effects and scope of gratitude's prosocial function, indicating that gratitude promotes prosocial behaviour but does not moderate the bystander effect.
Source: Figshare
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7167684115