Arguing for a Generous Identity

Abstract

A generous person is one who freely gives assistance to others. In this article, we provide evidence in support of the existence of a generous identity. To do this, we first outline ways in which generosity relates to other constructs such as altruism, helping behavior, volunteerism, and philanthropy and offer explanations as to why it is important to study generous identity both alone and in tandem with these related constructs. Next, we brief ly discuss how generosity can be conceptualized as a person identity. We then recommend best practices for developing and implementing a measure for generous identity. Lastly, we discuss the implications of a generous identity and ways in which its salience can play a role in different contexts.Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.(Frank A. Clark)