Studies in Script Theory: II. Altruistic Nuclear Scripts

Abstract

A serious lack in the extensive research literature on altruism, helping, and prosocial behavior is a personological perspective: a coherent theory of personality, coupled with case studies of committed altruists. This paper derived from Tomkins' script theory two versions of altruistic nuclear scripts (helping and reforming) in which altruism is the major agenda of a person's life. The formulations were tested with secondary analyses of data reported in four major naturalistic studies of committed altruists. Results were strongly supportive of Tomkins' theory and suggest the importance of distinguishing among various ways in which altruism may characterize a personality.