The Effects of Confession on Altruism

Summary To test the hypothesis that confession serves to reduce guilt and thus to decrease subsequent altruism, 74 adult men and 99 adult women, alone or accompanied by other men and women, were observed entering or leaving a Catholic church during confession hours and asked to donate to the March of Dimes. Both the number of people donating and the amount given were recorded. Subjects were significantly more likely to donate prior to confession, and men gave significantly more money prior to than after confession. Women, however, donated larger amounts postconfession. Men and women were significantly more likely to donate when with a woman than when alone, and women gave significantly more money when with another woman than when alone. Men, however, gave significantly less money when with a woman than when alone. Men also donated more money overall than women. The results suggest that confession may serve to reduce altruism, at least for men, and that the presence of a woman may serve to increase it, at least for women.