A little over six months ago, Haiti was struck by a massive earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people. As residents of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, survivors lost the little they had before the disaster. The KU community took notice, putting together charity events such as benefit concerts and clothing drives.

Now, Haiti is still in need, but the initial shock felt globally has faded. Other devastating events, such as the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, have taken some U.S. attention, but the response efforts haven’t been the same. For example, Larry King raised $2 million in a telethon for oil-spill relief — far short of the $10 million he raised in a telethon for Haiti in January. Social psychology professor Omri Gillath said several factors that contributed to the record-breaking response to Haiti were absent from oil-spill relief.

Psychology of giving

Sean Elliot, a junior from Overland Park who helped organize a Haiti benefit concert, said the lower involvement in oil spill relief could be because it was a man-made problem, while Haiti’s earthquake was a natural disaster.

“The nature of the problems are completely different,” Elliot said. “The involvement level of regular people in America seems to be a lot less; it doesn’t seem like people think they can be involved.”

Gillath said the act of giving can be a psychological matter that relates to security.

“If you have a high self-esteem, you could be capable of giving,” Gillath said. “If you feel like if you needed help someone would be there to help you, you’re more likely to give.”

Gillath said people could be less apt to contribute to the oil-spill relief because it was preventable.

“There’s a lot more anger that lies with BP, and when you think about helping behavior it should be clear that you can help,” Gillath said. “People want to know that their help can end people’s suffering.”

Gillath said that people give for various reasons. In some cases, people give because they feel morally obligated to do so. In others, people are looking for a tax break.

“If it’s generosity, they’re doing it to create a better world and to alleviate someone’s suffering, but others do it for a tax cut,” Gillath said. “The exact same behavior can have a very different incentive.”

Social pressure, though it can have a negative association, also affects the act of giving.

“If your friends go to the gym, you might start going as well,” Gillath said.

Role of the media

Gillath also said that the media undoubtedly has an effect on donations. Days after the earthquake, celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake took part in the “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, which aired on all major networks and generated more than $58 million, a new record for money raised by a disaster relief telethon. Gillath said when celebrities or role models are seen giving to certain causes it can make others want to help as well.

“It’s the same thing with your mother — if your mother gives to something, you’re more like to give,” Gillath said.

While some celebrities took part in giving back to oil spill relief in the gulf, most major celebrities were absent. “Gulf Aid,” a fundraising concert featuring musicians likes Mos Def and Lenny Kravitz, raised $350,000 — far less than other celebrity efforts.

Heather Jackson, a campus minister with Campus Christians, traveled to Haiti to help with relief projects. She said a lack of awareness is what separates the Haiti relief from the oil spill.

“When the earthquake happened, all these organizations said, ‘Here’s how you can help,’” Jackson said. “I don’t really see that with the oil spill. Groups are saying ‘this happened’ but they don’t say how to help.”

Donating made easy

Haiti relief groups took advantage of social media as a means to spread their message and for people to donate. According to the American Red Cross, $22 million was donated to Haiti relief just through its text messaging program, which charged $10 to cell phone bills each time “HAITI” was texted to their number.

Elliot, Delta Force president, said his group became involved in the relief effort because of the number of displaced people in Haiti. Delta Force joined other student groups to hold a benefit concert last semester.

“The numbers to us seemed out of this world,” Elliot said. “We didn’t want to stand there and do nothing about it, especially because it’s so close to the U.S.”

Elliot said the groups like the American Red Cross made donating for Haiti relief easy, whereas the oil-spill relief was more complex. He said that the complexity of the issue made it harder for people to understand what was needed or what organizations were involved.

“The American Red Cross was ready,” Elliot said. “All they needed was the money,” Elliot said.

Delta Force is now planning a benefit for oil-spill victims to be held in late August. The money will be donated to the United Way.