Abstract

In recent years, economists have deviated from traditional rational choice models of pro-social behavior. They introduced new models which are a reflection of new findings on the hidden costs of reward and punishment. These new models are established on the bases of social preferences, conditional cooperation, and self-identity. The present paper evaluates recent theories and models of pro-social behavior and tries to advance relevant theories and models from an Islamic point of view. By introducing material and spiritual motives for pro-social behavior, the paper suggests that material incentives could deactivate spiritual motives by creating doubt about social responsibility of potential altruists about the necessity of benevolence. The results of a case study about the effect of incentives on kidney donation in Iran support the proposed explanation. This approach is compatible with Islamic approaches concerning separation between the spiritual and material incentives and their simultaneous stimulation in Islamic law and orders.