How the feeling of guilt helps to raise money for different crowdfunding projects

From politics and religion to the environment and people with disabilities.

American psychologists Merrill Carlsmith and Alan Gross conducted several experiments on this topic. In the course of their research subjects were forced to apply a series of painful electric shocks to another person, ostensibly checking the condition of the devices. Actually, no one received shocks, but the subjects were convinced that the shocks were real. Such experiences led to the fact that the participants felt guilty for their action. Then the "victim" of the electric shocks asked all subjects to collect money for a fictitious Committee with an absurd name such as "Save the forest of California Redwood trees". The results showed that those subjects, which have been made to feel guilty, put in the money three times more likely than "innocent" subjects (or were ready to go to work as volunteers).

As shown another Carlsmith and Gross's experiment, people who felt a sense of guilt, but was forgiven by the victim give money more effectively (6 times more than the innocent donators). However, this contingent proved dangerous for long-term projects - though they make more money, only 1-2 times. The subjects did not like the experimenter - the person who forgave them their crimes. Obviously, people do not like those in relation to whom feel obliged. People make an invaluable contribution, never to see the one who forgave them.

Therefore, crowdfunding is always more effective to make a person feel a slight degree of guilt without forgiveness.