Relation of Altruism to Age,Social Class,and Ethnic Identity

Abstract

The relationship of age, social class, and ethnic identity to altruism was explored. 800 addressed but unstamped letters were dropped (‘lost“) at 4 locations, junior high, senior high, college, and adult sites, evenly distributed between 2 cities, one populated mainly by upper middle-class residents, and one populated mainly by middle and lower middle-class residents. One-half the letters were addressed to someone with a Spanish surname, and one-half to a Caucasian surname. Significant differences in the age and social class variables were found, but not in the ethnic identity variable. Older and upper middle-class Ss displayed more altruism as measured by their greater return rate of the lost letters.