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The Scarcity–Prosociality Link: Ambiguous, Yet Thought-provoking

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  • Lilavati Krishnan

Abstract

The present essay examines the scarcity–prosociality link, that is, the conditions in which scarcity leads to self-interest and competitiveness or to other-oriented prosociality and cooperativeness. Adopting a social-psychological approach, the findings of the major investigations of reactions to scarcity are summarised. These studies show both self-interest and prosociality as reactions to scarcity, depending on various mediating factors, although a scarcity mindset or limited-good perception is not revealed directly. This link needs to be interpreted in the light of social-psychological, cognitive, economic and cultural factors. In general, the scarcity–prosociality relationship is found to be ambiguous, yet thought-provoking. Some aspects that require detailed exploration and the multi-pronged implications of the scarcity–prosociality association for societal development are highlighted. It is suggested that effective coping with scarcity in resource-constrained economies will be possible if socialisation and social policies promote practices that enhance resource availability, encourage an optimal use of resources, and modify a competitive stance to a cooperative one, and a zero-sum game perception of resource exchange to one of non-zero-sum game.

Suggested Citation

  • Lilavati Krishnan, 2022. "The Scarcity–Prosociality Link: Ambiguous, Yet Thought-provoking," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 34(1), pages 79-103, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:psydev:v:34:y:2022:i:1:p:79-103
    DOI: 10.1177/09713336221080648
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    1. Kelly Goldsmith & Vladas Griskevicius & Rebecca Hamilton, 2020. "Scarcity and Consumer Decision Making: Is Scarcity a Mindset, a Threat, a Reference Point, or a Journey?," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(4), pages 358-364.
    2. Prediger, Sebastian & Vollan, Björn & Herrmann, Benedikt, 2013. "Resource Scarcity, Spite and Cooperation," GIGA Working Papers 227, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    3. Juliette L. Ratchford & Sarah A. Schnitker & Paul Reppas, 2021. "The Virtue of Thrift: A Person-Centered Conceptualization and Measure Development," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 385-411, January.
    4. Jan A. Häusser & Christina Stahlecker & Andreas Mojzisch & Johannes Leder & Paul A. M. Lange & Nadira S. Faber, 2019. "Acute hunger does not always undermine prosociality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Nie, Zihan & Yang, Xiaojun & Tu, Qin, 2020. "Resource scarcity and cooperation: Evidence from a gravity irrigation system in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
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