<P> The types of needs are influencing people's charitable behaviour regardless of their power distance backgrounds . The needs generated are classified into controllable and uncontrollable categories, where the occurrence of the former is due to lack of effort while the occurrence of the latter is due to unforeseeable events such as natural disasters . The ability of whether individuals are able to control the situations affects how they will react to the raising needs . </P> <P> On the one hand, the level of power distance does have an influence over a society's reaction towards controllable needs . People with high power distance background perceive most of the issues as rightful inequality, hence are reluctant to get themselves involved with' troubles', and therefore most of the time they choose to turn a blind eye on such petty things . Conversely, low power distance societies are intolerant with unfairness and thus their higher sense of responsibility motivates people to make an effort in eliminating dissonance in every possibility . Yet, there seems to be an exception . It is found that people are not sympathetic at all to those in trouble due to internal - controllable reasons . In other words, it is most likely that people reckon those who are lazy, careless, greedy or indulgent, deserve such hardship and punishment, instead of giving a hand to them to go through the difficulties . In this situation, even if there is an evident unequal phenomenon emerging, the willingness of charitable behaviours are attenuated to the least in both high and low power distance countries . </P> <P> On the other hand, people tend to be more responsible in terms of uncontrollable needs, whereby they are more willing to offer aid to . It is assumed that people consider that the aid for uncontrollable needs will not greatly change societal rightful inequality, and hence generous assistance and help will be offered to those in need regardless of power distance background . In such circumstances, a sense of duty is more likely to be raised, where people tend to undertake charitable behaviours . </P> <P> The relationship norms behind the needs also affect the sense of responsibility . The types of relationships are mainly classified as exchange relationships, in which people are expecting a reasonable privilege or benefit in return for offering aid; and communal relationships, where those giving assistance are wholeheartedly and generously taking care of those in need without any expectation of material return . According to research, people are more likely to refuse to aid when encountering needs associated with exchange relationships rather than needs with communal relationships, which has proved to alleviate the influence of power distance belief and increase the willingness and responsibility of assistance . </P>

The united states is among the top five countries for high power distance.​