Predicting Altruistic Behavior

J. A. Palmer designed the Costly Signals Questionnaire (CSQ) to measure participants’ level of support for altruistic acts performed under the varying conditions of (1) close kin, (2) person who can reciprocate, (3) group co-members, and (4) anonymous strangers (representing costly signaling theory). Participants (n=465) were given an opportunity to perform an altruistic act anonymously (donate valuable raffle tickets) and then completed the CSQ and measures of altruism, empathy, and religiosity. Participants’ support for altruistic acts ranked significantly from strongest to weakest: kin-based > reciprocity > shared group > anonymous stranger. The CSQ appears to be a reliable, valid instrument for predicting altruistic action and measuring support of altruism based on benefactor-beneficiary relationships per evolutionary theory.