Abstract
We examine reports of typical daily helping (Study 1a-b, Ns = 402 and 217) and daily helping reported over seven days (Study 2, n = 2380 daily diary reports) through the lens of self-determination theory. We examine autonomous prosocial motivation (seeing intrinsic value in helping and seeing helpfulness as part of one’s identity) and controlled prosocial motivation (seeing helping as a duty and obligation) as independent predictors. Autonomous prosocial motivation was linked to more prosocial acts, more time, and more effort spent on typical daily helping (Study 1), and to more prosocial acts, more time, and more effort spent on helping on a given day (Study 2). Controlled prosocial motivation was linked to more money and more effort spent on typical daily helping (Study 1), and to more prosocial acts, more money and more effort spent on helping that day (Study 2). We conclude that both types of prosocial motivation can foster daily helping.