Motives of Volunteers

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Volunteers (Symbolic Image)

As already explained in the lesson „Psychological Implications of Helping“ prosocial behaviour mostly is motivated by a combination of altruistic and egoistic reasons. The same is true for all kinds of voluntering. We would like to take a closer look at findings of research on the backgrounds and motives of volunteer work:

Self-Actualisation

A strong motive for most people volunteering is the topic of the task they perform. They find the activities relevant and interesting, and they feel attracted by the aims of the organisation or initiative representing them. They appreciate the opportunity to realise personal values that are central for their identity and they find possibilities for self-actualisation. Individual interests, personal goals and life perspectives play dominating roles in the motivation of those volunteers.

For example
An artist who gives painting lessons to children of refugees uses the opportunity to combine her motive to support others with her personal passion for art and painting. In these cases, psychologists speak of intrinsic motivation, in contrast to extrinsic motivation that is rather directed towards exterior success and recognition.

Studies found that people who volunteer see more meaning in their lives than people not volunteering1

Altruistic and egoistic motives

Most of the volunteers, according to research findings, feel the wish to support others and, at the same time, to follow their own interests.

Many researchers doubt that there is something like „pure“ altruism. In any case, altruism is characterised by the will to help others and by a sense of responsibility for their troubles. Volunteers usually are inspired by a norm of social responsibility: They feel obliged to help fellow humans to overcome difficulties, to alleviate suffering and to make a contribution to the society. In order to measure the individual extent of this normative conviction psychologists developed the Social Responsibility Scale2.

Another important motivation comes along with religious-charitable convictions: People who are inspired by them feel the commandment to love their neighbours, to support them and to care for their well-being. Their actions are driven by a religious self-conception.

Besides these motivations mainly directed to the welfare of others volunteers name a number of motives that can be called „egoistic“ because they hope to gain personal benefit from their activities:

Social Integration
They feel a wish for social integration: In times when traditional bonds such as extendes families and churches are losing their power many people feel isolated or lonesome. Volunteering can help to make new contacts and social networks.
Learning Opportunities
They look for learning opportunities: A considerable number of volunteers say that they are interested in acquiring new information and knowledge. They want to explore unknown fields of experience and gain new perspectives.
Gain Qualifications
Another widespread motive for volunteering is to gain qualifications that can also be applied in professional fields. Communication and organisation skills, team spirit and social competences are highly welcome in many vocations and jobs. Thus, volunteering can serve as a springboard into new career opportunities. This motivation is particularly relevant for young people, unemployed or women after a parental leave.
Need for Recognition
Many volunteers name a need for recognition as a central motive. Recognition and acknowledgement of their protégés, their families and communities gives them higher self-esteem and confidence. They develop a new sense of achievement and are able to be proud of what they accomplish.
Fun and Adventure
Experiencing fun and adventure can be motives for volunteering as well. Volunteers find opportunities to experience fields that are not represented in their everyday lives. Thus, „sensation seeking“ can be the background for volunteering in exciting sectors, e.g. fire bridades, rescue services or foreign aid.
Need for Reciprocity
Many people feel a need for reciprocity, i.e. a feeling that giving and taking in their lives are balanced. Thus, they wish to compensate inequality and injustice by supporting those who are disadvantaged. Moreover, reciprocity means that volunters hope to get help when they are in distress themselves. „I would hope someone would help me or my family if I/we were in similar situations.“3

Summary

Summing up, we can say that voluntary engagement is „multi-motivated“. Most of the helpers surveyed named two or more motives for their activities. The most common combination of motives is „enjoyment of the activity and altruism“4. Egoistiv motives have their part in the game, too, and there is no need to deny or negate them.

Footnotes

  1. BI 2000 plus (2000). Altrusimus und Egoismus. Was motiviert zum Ehrenamt?
  2. Gough, H. G., McClosky, H., & Meehl, P. E. (1952). A personality scale for social responsibility. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 47(1), 73-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0062924
  3. Schondel, C. K., & Boehm, K. E. (2000). Motivational needs of adolescent volunteers. Adolescence, 35(138), 335-344
  4. Roenbladt (2009). Freiwilliges Engagament in Deutschland. Springer.

Project Partners

Casework is a cooperation between the Innovation in Learning Institute (ILI), the ECC Association for Interdisciplinary Consulting and Education, the INTRGEA Institute for Development of Human Potentials, and Oxfam Italy. More info…