Altruism and voter behavior: a systematic literature review and agenda for future research employing TCM framework
SN Social Sciences, cilt.6, sa.10, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 6 Sayı: 10
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s43545-026-01750-9
- Dergi Adı: SN Social Sciences
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Altruism, Altruistic political behavior, Systematic Literature Review (SLR), TCM framework, Voter behavior
- Anadolu Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Despite growing interest in the moral and psychological foundations of political participation, the role of altruism in voter behavior remains theoretically fragmented, contextually uneven, and methodologically inconsistent. A systematic review is needed to synthesize this expanding body of research, identify conceptual patterns, and guide future inquiry. This study conducts a comprehensive review of 71 peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2026, using the Theory–Context–Methods (TCM) framework to organize and synthesize the literature. The analysis identifies eight dominant theoretical perspectives—altruistic voting, expressive behavior, sociotropic concern, prosocial motivation, social identity influence, and post-conflict engagement, ethical/rational choice voting, and behavioral-evolutionary prosociality—but finds limited integration across them. Contextually, the literature is heavily concentrated in Western democracies, with thematic emphasis on redistribution, environmental values, and political violence, while regions such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia remain understudied. Methodologically, the field is dominated by quantitative, with fewer qualitative, mixed-method, longitudinal designs, experimental approaches, and conceptual studies. In response, this review outlines a future research agenda that calls for a theoretical synthesis, geographic and thematic expansion, and methodological diversification. By mapping the current landscape and identifying key gaps, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the moral foundations of democratic participation, providing actionable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to foster prosocial political engagement.