In two pre-registered and fully incentivized studies (N = 501), we investigate prosocial behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Based on a comparison with pre-pandemic data, Study 1 shows that individuals’ general prosociality measured with a (context-independent) Social Value Orientation Slider changed significantly before vs. during the early stage of the pandemic. In addition, we identified pandemic-specific context factors for prosocial behavior measured by a series of Dictator games with different recipients. Allocations in the Dictator game increased with the giver’s responsibility and the recipients’ vulnerability to the virus. Study 2 replicates and extends this finding in a sample representative for the adult German population in terms of age and gender. We show that, for different actors (self, recipient, politicians), different dimensions of responsibility (responsibility to help, responsibility for the problem cause, and for the solution) are associated with prosocial behavior. Contrary to what could be expected from diffusion of responsibility, prosocial behavior increased not only when individuals themselves felt responsible to help but also when they perceived politicians to be responsible to help. Assigning responsibility for the cause of the COVID-19 crisis to recipients and politicians was associated with a decrease in prosocial behavior. However, responsibility for the solution had no influence. We discuss implications for public policies.

在两项预先注册且完全激励的研究中（N= 501)，我们调查了德国 COVID-19 大流行期间的亲社会行为。根据与大流行前数据的比较，研究 1 表明，在大流行之前与大流行早期阶段，用（独立于背景的）社会价值取向滑块衡量的个人一般亲社会性发生了显着变化。此外，我们确定了亲社会行为的大流行特定背景因素，这些因素由一系列不同接受者的独裁者游戏衡量。独裁者游戏中的分配随着给予者的责任和接受者对病毒的脆弱性而增加。研究 2 在代表成年德国人口的年龄和性别样本中复制并扩展了这一发现。我们表明，对于不同的行为者（自我、接受者、政治家），责任的不同维度（帮助的责任、对问题原因和解决方案的责任）与亲社会行为有关。与责任分散的预期相反，亲社会行为不仅在个人自己感到有责任提供帮助时，而且在他们认为政治家有责任提供帮助时也会增加。将 COVID-19 危机的责任分配给接受者和政治家与亲社会行为的减少有关。但是，解决方案的责任没有影响。我们讨论对公共政策的影响。不仅当个人自己感到有责任提供帮助时，而且当他们认为政治家有责任提供帮助时，亲社会行为也会增加。将 COVID-19 危机的责任分配给接受者和政治家与亲社会行为的减少有关。但是，解决方案的责任没有影响。我们讨论对公共政策的影响。不仅当个人自己感到有责任提供帮助时，而且当他们认为政治家有责任提供帮助时，亲社会行为也会增加。将 COVID-19 危机的责任分配给接受者和政治家与亲社会行为的减少有关。但是，解决方案的责任没有影响。我们讨论对公共政策的影响。