Mammalian brain · Social Drives & Status
Competitive Altruism
Public generosity buys status; people give more when watched, and sellers and causes design visibility into giving.
An everyday example
Donor walls, leaderboards, matched-gift announcements, 'top contributor' badges.
What it can cost you
Giving or spending for the audience rather than the cause; being ranked into escalation.
Warning signs
- I gave more because others could see.
- The leaderboard changed my amount.
One thing to do
Decide the amount privately before you see the leaderboard.
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