During December, many charities have Christmas campaigns that call for donations. This year, for example, the Red Cross has launched a film focusing on the people most affected by the climate crisis, Act Swedish Church has a Christmas gathering to stop violence and abuse against girls, and in the Children's Cancer Foundation's Christmas shop you can buy jewelry, or a teddy bear, and at that way contribute to research.
The timing of the campaigns has to do with the fact that we are more willing to open our wallets at this time of year, according to Charlotte Rydh, secretary general at Giva Sweden.
- Christmas is a time of year when, for example, people reflect on how they can help others or what is important, while the organizations ask for money. You can say that it is a symbiosis between people and the organizations that increases the donation, she says.
"Is there a self-interest"What psychological mechanisms then make us become more generous about Christmas? According to Arvid Erlandsson, who is a researcher in psychology, they are several.
- Giving makes the donor feel that they are benefiting and taking their responsibility. There is also a self-interest, that is, the donor gives to get a nice warm feeling before Christmas, or to avoid feeling guilt, he says.