Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Development and Maintenance of Prosocial Behavior pp 359–377Cite as

Some Paradoxical Status Implications of Helping and Being Helped

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Social Justice ((BLSC,volume 31))

Abstract

A prosocial act, on the surface, may appear as a redistribution of resources in the direction of equalizing the worth of donor and recipient. Yet we are told that the act may well promote inequality in a direction favoring the donor. We seem, then, to be confronted by a paradox. Since paradoxes have little currency in our empirical world, how do we resolve it?

This work was funded in part by the Graduate School, the Department of Psychology, and the Institute for Behavioral Research of the University of Georgia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aronson, E., & Bridgeman, D. Jigsaw groups and the desegregated classroom: In pursuit of common goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1979, 5, 438–446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W. Sex differences in bystander Intervention in a theft.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 2110–2120.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & McGinn, N. C. Sex differences in choice of distribution rules.Journal of Personality, 1977, 45, 379–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & Walster, E. Participants’ reactions to “Equity with the world.”Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1974, 10, 528–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychological Review, 1977, 84, 191–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnlund, D. C., & Harland, C. Propinquity and prestige as determinants of communication networks.Sociometry, 1963, 26, 467–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Tal, D., Bar-Zohar, Y., Greenberg, M. S., & Hermon, M. Reciprocity behavior in the relationship between donor and recipient and between harm-doer and victim.Sociometry, 1977, 40, 293–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batson, C. D., Harris, A. C., McCaul, K. D., Davis, M., & Schmidt, T. Compassion or compliance: Alternative dispositional attributions for one’s helping behavior.Social Psychology Quarterly, 1979, 42, 405–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batson, C. D., Duncan, B. D., Ackerman, P., Buckley, T., & Birch, K. Is empathic emotion a source of altruistic motivation?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1981, 40, 290–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, J., Cohen, B. P., & Zelditch, M., Jr. Status characteristics and social interaction.American Sociological Review, 1972, 37, 241–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. M. The dynamics of bureaucracy: A study in interpersonal relations in two governmental agencies (Rev. ed.)Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964. Brickman, P., Coates, D., Rabinowitz, V. C., & Cohn, E. Dilemmas of helping.Unpublished manuscript, Northwestern University, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. Interpersonal attraction in exchange and communal relationships.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 12–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. S., Gotay, C. C., & Mills, J. Acceptance of help as a function of similarity of the potential helper and opportunity to repay.Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1974, 4, 224–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, E. G. The desegregated school: Problems in status power and interracial climate.Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York, September 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coke, J. S., Batson, C. D., & McDavis, K. Empathic mediation of helping: A two-stage model.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 752–766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, J. E. Adler’s concept of social interest: Theory, measurement, and implications for adjustment.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1980, 39, 481–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosbie, P. V. Social exchange and power compliance: A test of Homans’ propositions.Sociometry, 1972, 35, 203–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, M. R., Steinberg,, & Grev, R. Wanting to and having to help: Separate motivations for positive mood and guilt-induced helping.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1980, 38, 181–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePaulo, B. M. Accepting help from teachers—when the teachers are children.Human Relations, 1978, 31, 459–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePaulo, B. M., & Fisher, J. D. The costs of asking for help.Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 1980, 1, 23–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. What is beautiful is good.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 24, 285–290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Druian, P. R., & DePaulo, B. M. Asking a child for help.Social Behavior and Personality, 1977, 5, 33–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eider, G. H., Jr. Adolescent socialization and development. In E. F. Borgotta & W. W. Lambert (Eds.),Handbook of personality theory and research. Chicago: Rand, McNally, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feshbach, N. D. Empathy training: A field study in affective education.Address presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, March 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisek, M. H., & Ofshe, R. The process of status evolution.Sociometry, 1970, 33, 327–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D., Harrison, C. L., & Nadler, A. Exploring the generalizability of donor-recipient similarity effects. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1978, 4, 627–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foa, U. G., & Foa, E. B. Societal structures of the mind.Springfield, III.: Charles C. Thomas, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freese, L. Conditions for status equality in informal task groups.Sociometry, 1974, 37, 174–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • French, J. R. P., Jr., & Raven, B. The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gergen, K.]., Morse, S.]., & Kristeller, J. L. The manner of giving: Cross-national continuities in reactions to aid.Psychologia, 1973, 16, 121–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gouldner, A. W. The norm of reciprocity: A preliminary Statement.American Sociological Review, 1960, 25, 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. S., & Shapiro, S. P. Indebtedness: An adverse aspect of asking for and receiving help.Sociometry, 1971, 34, 290–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastorf, A. H., Wildfogel, & Cassman, T. Acknowledgment of handicap as a tactic in social interaction.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 1790–1797.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M. L. Sex differences in empathy and related behaviors.Psychological Bulletin, 1977, 84, 712–722.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Homans, G. C. The human group. New York: Harcourt,Brace & World, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurwitz, J. E., Zander, A. F., & Hymovitch, B. Some effects of power on the relations among group members. In D. Cartwright & A. Zander (Eds.),Group dynamics: Research and theory. Evanston, III.: Row, Peterson, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanfer, F. H. Personal control, social control, and altruism: Can society survive the age of individualism?American Psychologist, 1979, 34, 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplowitz, S. A. Towards a systematic theory of power attribution.Social Psychology, 1978, 41, 131–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. Communication in experimentally created hierarchies.Human Relations, 1951, 4, 39–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanzetta,]. T., & Wilke, H. The Obligation to help: The effects of levels of prior help on subsequent helping.European Journal of Social Psychology, 1971, 1, 97–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, G. S. Reward allocation by males and females.Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Montreal, August 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinger, G. The development of perceptions and behavior in newly formed social power relationships. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman, A., & Sterne, R. Aging in the United States: Ascription of a terminal sick role.Sociology and Social Research, 1962, 53, 194–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippitt, R., Polansky, N., & Rosen, S. The dynamics of power.Human Relations, 1952, 5, 37–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meeker, B. F., & Weitzel-O’Neill, P. A. Sex roles and interpersonal behavior in taskoriented groups.American Sociological Review, 1977, 42, 91–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Midlarsky, E. Aiding under stress: The effects of competence, dependency, visibility, and fatalism.Journal of Personality, 1971, 39, 132–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Midlarsky, M., & Midlarsky, E. Some determinants of aiding under experimentally induced stress.Journal of Personality, 1973, 41, 305–327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Midlarsky, M., & Midlarsky, E. Status inconsistency, aggressive attitude, and helping behavior.Journal of Personality, 1976, 44, 371–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. C., Jr. Social status and social influence: Process considerations.Sociometry, 1969, 32, 145–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, S. C., III, & Rosen, S. Effects of feit adequacy and opportunity to reciprocate on help seeking.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1973, 9, 265–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadler, A., Altman, A., & Fisher, J. D. Helping is not enough: Recipient’s reactions to aid as a function of positive and negative information about the self.Journal of Personality, 1979, 47, 615–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phares, E.]., & Lamiell, J. T. Internal-external control, interpersonal judgments of others in need, and attributions of responsibility.Journal of Personality, 1975, 43, 23–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regan, D. T., & Totten, J. Empathy and attribution: Turning observers into actors.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 850–856.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S. Effects of adjustment on the perception and exertion of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S., Levinger, G., & Lippitt, R. Perceived sources of social power.Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1961, 63, 188–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S., Powell, E. R., & Schubot, D. B. Peer-tutoring outcomes as influenced by the equity and type of role assignment.Journal of Educational Psychology, 1977, 69, 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S., Powell, E. R., Schubot, D. B., & Rollins, P. Competence and tutorial role as status variables affecting peer-tutoring outcomes in public school settings.Journal of Educational Psychology, 1978, 70, 602–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S., Tomarelli, M. M., & Kidda, M. L., Jr. Some consequences of empathic versus efficacyseeking motivation for helping.Paper presented at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, March 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubot, D., & Rosen, S. The effect ofresource deservedness and opportunity to reciprocate on help seeking.Paper presented at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, March 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, B. The social psychology of the gift.American Journal of Sociology, 1967, 73, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shumaker, S. A., & Jackson, J. S. The aversive effects of nonreciprocated benefits.Social Psychology Quarterly, 1979, 42, 148–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmel, G. Faithfulness and gratitude. In K. H. Wolff (Ed.),The sociology of George Simmel. Glencoe, III.: Free Press, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A., Gatewood, R., & Driver, M. Some determinants of gratitude.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 9, 233–236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tessler, R. C., & Schwartz, S. H. Help seeking, self-esteem, and achievement motivation: An attributional analysis.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 21, 318–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thibaut, J. W., & Riecken, H. W. Some determinants and consequences of the perception of social causality.Journal of Personality, 1955, 24, 113–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, M., Jr., & Driskell, J. E., Jr. Status generalization: A review and some new data.American Sociological Review, 1978, 43, 220–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. The experience of efficacy in schizophrenia.Psychiatry, 1965, 28, 199–211.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whyte, W. F. Street corner society.Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T. A. Perceptual consequences of helping another person.Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., September 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T. A. Perceptions of clients by professional helpers.Psychological Bulletin, 1978, 85, 968–1000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Behavioral Research and Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA

    Sidney Rosen

Authors
  1. Sidney Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    Ervin Staub

  2. School of Education, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Daniel Bar-Tal

  3. Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

    Jerzy Karylowski

  4. Department of Psychology, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland

    Janusz Reykowski

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rosen, S. (1984). Some Paradoxical Status Implications of Helping and Being Helped. In: Staub, E., Bar-Tal, D., Karylowski, J., Reykowski, J. (eds) Development and Maintenance of Prosocial Behavior. Critical Issues in Social Justice, vol 31. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2645-8_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2645-8_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9650-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2645-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation