Volunteerism

Definition

Volunteerism is voluntary, deliberate service to others over time and without compensation. A key element of volunteer behavior is that the person freely chooses to help and has no expectation of pay or other compensation. Mandatory public service required by courts or schools would not meet the definition of volunteerism. The volunteer behavior must include service work, not simply a donation of money or goods. This service is long-term, repeated service, such as giving time weekly to help at a local hospital. The volunteer service is only a service if it benefits others who want help. For example, the Boy Scout who helps the blind person across the street when the blind person wants to move independently (and perhaps in another direction) would not be a volunteer.

Who are Volunteers?

People from youth to older adulthood engage in volunteering. The organization Independent Sector estimates that about 44% of adults and 59% of teenagers volunteer, with the largest group of volunteers being from 35 to 55 years old. Wealthier people volunteer more because they have more spare time and more flexibility in their jobs. The wealthy may also have a social obligation, called noblesse oblige, to engage in philanthropy and good works. Those who volunteer are likely also to be the most generous givers. Women volunteer slightly more often than men do, but men give more money to charities. Better-educated people also volunteer more than less-educated people, because of the skills and resources they have to offer. Finally, those people with more connections to the community, such as people living in smaller, rural communities and people who have connections to religious and cultural group memberships, volunteer more often.

What Motivates People to Volunteer?

E. Gil Clary, Leslie Orenstein, Mark Snyder, and others have examined motivations for volunteering. A person is driven by value expressive motivation if his or her reasons for volunteering derive from the values he or she holds dear, such as a concern for the poor. When a person's primary goal is to learn about a particular [Page 1016]problem or group of people or to have new experiences, his or her primary motivation is understanding or knowledge. Those with a social adjustive motive volunteer because friends, family, or social demands encourage them to do so. Others are motivated by career aspirations. For example, college students may volunteer to enhance their job skills or increase their probability of educational or career goals. Some people volunteer to relieve their personal problems, such as the guilt of having too much time on their own hands or needing a positive outlet for their insecurities. This is called ego-defensive or aprotective function. On the other hand, those with an ego-enhancing motivation volunteer to increase their own self-esteem. In a volunteer job, a person can be valued by the staff and feel competent at a minor job. Finally, some people volunteer out of community concern. They demonstrate concern for a particular community as defined by geography (a neighborhood) or by a particular condition or need (concern for those with cancer).

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