Help that works: The effects of aid on subsequent task performance.

Abstract

University of ConnecticutThis study explores the interactive effects of aid, situational demandingness(i.e., task difficulty and threatening aspects of the helper's behavior), and help-recipients' self-esteem on recipients' task performance. Based on Fisher, Nadler,and Whitcher-Alagna's threat-to-self-esteem model of reactions to help and pastresearch by Sigall and Gould, it was predicted that if aid is threatening orchallenging, then only high self-esteem subjects will respond with especially com-petent postaid task performance. Aspects of the helping context that exacerbatethe threat or highlight the challenge posed by aid will further accentuate thedifference in performance between the high and the low self-esteem subjects.Overall, these predictions were confirmed. The implications of the findings arediscussed.Research on helping has focused primarilyon the persons who give the help and on theconditions for giving help. In comparison,very little research has been done on helprecipients and the consequences of their re-ceiving help. It was assumed that helping isa good thing, that it should be encouraged,and that recipients are usually grateful forhelp received. Although positive responsesometimes does occur following aid, recentresearch indicates that negative reactionsalso occur. Some of these negative effects ofaid include feelings of discomfort and obli-gation, decrements in self-esteem and socialstatus, and derogations of the helper and thehelp. (For a review, see Fisher, DePaulo,& Nadler, 1981.)Receiving help, then, can sometimes be anemotionally charged event. Accordingly, the