Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Santa, Scrooge or somewhere in between: New Study Reveals Most People Are Givers…With A Catch, Of Course
  • USA - English


News provided by

PsychTests AIM Inc.

Dec 09, 2017, 03:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

True generosity is being kind to others – but also to yourself.
True generosity is being kind to others – but also to yourself.

MONTREAL (PRWEB) December 09, 2017 -- Philanthropists and good Samaritans will insist that the true spirit of giving is to be generous without expecting anything in return. The sheer joy that giving brings is a reward in and of itself. But even Saint Nick knows that handing out presents isn’t a one-way street: You have to be nice, or you’ll end up on the naughty list with a stocking full of coal. So are people more likely to be Santas or Scrooges? According to a study conducted by PsychTests, we’re a little bit of both.

The notion that it’s always better to give than to receive is true per se, but we’d like to add one caveat: Give and show kindness within reason.

Post this

In a study with nearly 10,000 participants, PsychTests’ researchers divided the sample into 5 “Giver Types”. They are as follows:

STRAIGHT-UP SCROOGE

  • 0.4% of the entire population received this type
  • 48% of Straight-up Scrooges are women
  • 52% of Straight-up Scrooges are men

Straight-up Scrooges put their personal needs and interests first. They can be standoffish, hostile, and domineering, and tend to be exclusively focused on advancing their own agendas. Scrooges are absolute pessimists, and often think the worst of others; they refuse to trust people or to compromise. Given their selfish, solitary nature, they are unlikely to have many friends, if any at all. These are individuals who look out for themselves, and who have no desire to endear themselves to others. For Straight-up Scrooges, it’s every Scrooge for himself or herself.

TIT FOR TAT ELF

  • 55.7% of the population received this type
  • 67% of Tit for Tat Elves are women
  • 33% of Tit for Tat Elves are men

Tit for Tat Elves will generally have your best interests at heart, but their kindness comes with a catch: These givers operate on a quid pro quo basis. If a Tit for Tat Elf does a favor for someone or goes out of their way to help a friend in need, they’ll be a little put off if the favor isn’t returned. Just like buying stock, Tit for Tat Elves won’t invest their time and energy in a charitable gesture if there is little to no ROI. You can always trust a Tit for Tat Elf to be there when needed and to give with an open hand and heart, but don’t expect to get unlimited free rides on their gravy train. Tit for Tat Elves believe in a balance: If someone gives to you, pay it forward and give to others.

BONA FIDE SANTA

  • 25.5% of the population received this type
  • 73% of Bona Fide Santas are women
  • 27% of Bona Fide Santas are men

Bona Fide Santas are givers at heart and love helping people. They are the first ones to come to someone’s aid when help is needed. However, don’t take these jolly people for jingle bell fools: They are willing to give freely, but are astute enough to recognize when their good nature is being taken advantage of by unscrupulous characters. Bona Fide Santas are kind but assertive: Anyone who crosses these givers will have to work hard to earn their trust again and get back on the “good” list. Santa is a giver, not an enabler.

BURNED GINGERBREAD

  • 14.5% of the population received this type
  • 83% of Burned Gingerbreads are women
  • 17% of Burned Gingerbreads are men

Burned Gingerbreads are givers whose good nature has been milked one too many times. While they may have been eager to help others in the past, Burned Gingerbreads are much more tentative when it comes doing someone a favor: To earn the trust of these cautious givers, a person would need to prove themselves trustworthy. Given that Burned Gingerbreads are altruistic by nature, a few bad experiences won’t completely quash their kind heart, but they won’t give up their hard-earned love or money so easily anymore.

SOFTIE SNOWMAN

  • 3.9% of the population received this type
  • 82% of Softie Snowmen are women
  • 18% of Softie Snowmen are men

Softie Snowmen will give and give until it may literally hurt. They tend to be pushovers, and regularly - although not always willingly - donate their time, energy, and resources to friends and strangers alike, but contrary to Bona Fide Santas, they are more likely to have trouble saying “no,” even when going out of their way to help others puts them at a major disadvantage. It’s not that Softie Snowmen are fishing for favors, but they will feel hurt and even resentful when others don’t show gratitude or don’t pay a kindness forward. Softie Snowmen abhor selfishness, but would greatly benefit from being kinder to themselves.

“The notion that it’s always better to give than to receive is true per se, but we’d like to add one caveat: Give and show kindness within reason,” explains Dr. Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “There is nothing wrong with being generous during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you have to max out your credit cards to pay for gifts, work yourself to exhaustion cooking for and entertaining others, or abide by bad behavior on the part of family members. This is why more than half of the population are conditional givers: Most people are willing to be generous, but if you take advantage of their good nature, they will cut you off. The majority of givers will not tolerate someone who takes and takes but offers little in return.”

“If you’re the kind of giver who constantly yields to the needs of others and gives so much but gets nothing in return, don’t be afraid to be a little selfish this holiday season. When you give too much of yourself in a relationship that lacks balance, your kindness will do more harm than good. If anything, you will be enabling the selfish person’s narcissistic and egocentric behavior. Try directing some of that kindness towards yourself. Make it your resolution to be more assertive, to say ‘no’ when you really can’t do someone a favor, and to donate your time to those who truly deserve it. It’s not so much a matter of selfishness as it is self-respect. Practice radical self-care. Love and give to yourself as much as you love and give to others.”

Want to assess your personality? Check out https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/4059

Professional users of AMPM – R3 (Advanced Multidimensional Personality Matrix – 3rd Revision) can download a sample report for this test or request a free demo for any assessment from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: Spotting Diamonds in the Rough. (http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr)

About PsychTests AIM Inc.
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com). The company’s research division, Plumeus Inc., is supported in part by Research and Development Tax Credit awarded by Industry Canada.

Ilona Jerabek, PsychTests AIM Inc., http://psychtests.com, +1 514-745-3189 Ext: 112, [email protected]

Modal title

Are most people Santas or Srooges? Here are the results of PsychTests’ study.
Are most people Santas or Srooges? Here are the results of PsychTests’ study.
Are most people Santas or Srooges? Here are the results of PsychTests’ study.

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.