When good overcomes bad: The impact of volunteers on those they help

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the impact of a personal encounter with perceived goodness, as represented by volunteers who are perceived as altruistic by those they help. It focuses on the encounter between at-risk street youths and lay volunteers in a mobile outreach service. The findings reveal that the street youths perceived the volunteers as representing pure altruism, and this stimulated several positive processes. Meeting the volunteers raised their awareness of giving without expecting a reward, which sharply contradicts their view of the world as a battlefield. Consequently, they understood and partially internalized the idea of non-material gratification. In some cases, the example set by the volunteers inspired the young people to consider volunteering themselves. Finally, they were able to generalize the altruistic image to the entire service and overcome their initial objections to a service run by the establishment. The proposed explanation, related to positive psychology, refers to the contrast between the example of the volunteers and the self centeredness of the street youths, which shifted slightly as a result.

The Practice of Positive Criminology

“…The volunteers in the course were experienced, carefully chosen Vipassana practitioners who could provide the prisoners with a positive role model. The volunteers, whom the participants perceived as truly good and altruistic, regardless of their inner motivation, represent "perceived altruism," the impact of which was studied by Ronel (2006). Accordingly, they served as role models and inspired a wish to follow their example as well as to please them with a sincere effort to emulate them.…”

“…The defined scope of positive criminology covers a wider aspect than either rehabilitation or recovery. As noted, it focuses on individuals' encounters with forces and influences that they experience as positive, which distance them from deviance and crime, whether by means of formal and informal programs and interventions, such as self-help groups (L. F. Kurtz, 1990); emphasis of positive social elements, such as exposure to goodness (Ronel, 2006), social acceptance (Bogdan & Taylor, 1987), and reintegrative shaming (Braithwaite, 1989); or based on positive personal traits, such as resilience and coherence (Ronel & Haimoff-Ayali, 2009). Positive criminology may be implemented anywhere in the change process of individuals and groups who have demonstrated deviant and criminal behavior by emphasizing positive experiences that may potentially prevent or discourage continued criminal behavior (Openhaim & Timor, 2005).…”

The changing nature of volunteering and the cross-border mobility: where does learning come from?

“…Volunteers are people of their time, 'with their own needs and aspirations' (Hedley 1992) trying to deal with the social uncertainties and the structural pressures exerted upon them. The paper advises that organisations need to rethink their conventional approaches to volunteering as an 'expression of identity or a gift of time' which is 'intrinsically rewarding' (Musick and Wilson 2008;Ronel 2006). The change would be from a psychological understanding of volunteering, to one that also embraces social motives.…”

Pedagogische betekenis van vrijwilligerswerk

“…De vrijwilliger wordt als onafhankelijk beschouwd (McGonigle 2002). Ook blijkt dat kinderen en hun ouders de inzet positiever waarderen omdat een vrijwilliger de taken vrijwillig verricht (Ronel 2006).…”