Hitchhiking and the ‘Sunshine Driver’

Further Effects of Weather Conditions on Helping Behavior

Bibliographic Data

ID13675774
AuthorsNicolas Guéguen (0000-0002-8963-1751, corresponding author), Jordy Stefan (0000-0002-7738-7376, Université de Bretagne Sud)
Year2013
Volume113
Issue3
Pages994-1000
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2466/17.07.pr0.113x30z8
PMID24693828
OpenAlexW2009461361
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

Previous studies have shown that pleasant weather conditions can improve people's mood and facilitate positive social relationships. The current study tested the effect of sunshine on drivers' willingness to give hitchhikers a ride. Four confederates (2 men, 2 women; M age = 20 yr.) acted as hitchhikers on the roadside in France, on sunny and cloudy days. To minimize the influence of other important variables, hitchhiking was conducted only when it was not raining and only when the external temperatures were between 20 degrees and 24 degrees C. Motorists' behavior in 2,864 hitchhiking events was analyzed. The results showed that both male and female drivers stopped more on sunny days than on cloudy days for both male and female hitchhikers. Perhaps the positive mood induced by the sunshine promotes helping behaviors

Helping behavior · Applied Psychology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Psychology · Psychology of Social Influence · Social Psychology