A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals significant differences in altruism between political ideologies. The research, involving a survey of over 46,000 individuals across 68 countries, finds that left-leaning individuals display greater generosity, particularly towards the international community, while right-leaning individuals are more altruistic towards their own nation. The study highlights how the quality of national governance impacts these behaviors. In countries with high governance quality, left-leaning individuals tend to align more with universalistic values, increasing their international generosity, while right-leaning individuals often show a cultural backlash, diminishing their international donations. The survey, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, measured political orientation on a scale and assessed generosity through participants’ decisions to donate to national versus international charities. The findings assert that political ideology significantly influences generosity, indicating a trend where conservatives exhibit lower levels of altruism overall. This complex interplay between governance, political orientation, and generosity underscores the importance of contextualizing altruistic behaviors within societal structures, especially in an increasingly globalized world. The study was conducted by researchers from various Italian universities, contributing to our understanding of social and moral psychology.
