Can Conflict Lead to Pro-social Behavior and Positive Psychological Growth?

Talk by Ori Shai (University of Haifa) as part of the Research Seminar Series of the IOS Economics Department.

This study examines the effect of conflict on pro-social behavior (e.g., volunteering). To this end, he analyzes a panel dataset to track individuals who were at risk of physical injury during a military operation in Israel in 2014 before and after this event, compared to a control group that was not at risk. His results reveal that following the conflict, individuals who were at risk of physical danger are more likely to behave pro-socially than those who were not. Placebo analysis using the pre-conflict period reinforces his conclusions. Related projects that explore the effects of war exposure on individuals' time and income preferences, as well as religious behavior, will also be presented.