Social Psychology of Helping Relations: Solidarity and Hierarchy (Contemporary Social Issues)

Examines the major aspects of giving and receiving help in interpersonal and intergroup relations This unique book extends the traditional emphasis on interpersonal help-giving in order to consider a wider spectrum of interpersonal and intergroup helping relations. Help giving is viewed as reflecting people's care for others, while at the same time dependency on help and giving help imply lower and higher places on the social hierarchy, respectively. It studies the psychology of what goes into helping someone and integrates experimental work conducted in the social psychological laboratory with applied research from volunteer organizations, schools, and work and family environments. In addition to research on the giving of help, the book considers the recipient of help and reviews research and theory on people's readiness to seek and receive help. Unlike much of past research in this context that has been interested in the "generosity question" (i.e., whether or not people help others) the book considers how different kinds of assistance (i.e., autonomy and dependency-oriented help) shape helping interactions. It then goes beyond the analyses of the immediate helping interaction to consider the long-term consequences of giving and receiving help. Finally, the book addresses theory and research on intergroup helping relations. Social Psychology of Helping Relations: Solidarity and Hierarchy begins with a general introduction to the topic. It then offers a series of broad perspectives, covering the philosophical and psychological theory, evolution, and overview of social psychological research. Next, the book looks at the social psychology of helping relations, examining the parties involvedt, and the "why" behind their actions. The positives and negatives of giving and receiving assistance, and the links between status and interpersonal and intergroup helping relations are also covered. It considers how giving, seeking and receiving help maintains or challenges status relations between individuals and groups. The book finishes with a conclusion that wraps up the many lessons learned. Looks at solidarity and inequality in social interactions Examines why people are ready to give and receive help Studies the consequences of giving and receiving help Highlights important implications to different kinds of help beyond the dichotomy between giving/receiving help or not Addresses research and theory on interpersonal and intergroup helping relations The implications of helping relations for personal and social change Social Psychology of Helping Relations: Solidarity and Hierarchy is an ideal book for advanced students, researchers and individuals interested in social psychology, counselling, social work, Sociology, and Political Science. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 5 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgment......Page 13 1.1 Helping Relations: Social Belongingness and Social Hierarchy......Page 15 1.2 “Helping” in Social Psychology: Definitions and Concepts......Page 18 1.3.1 Present Perspective on Helping Relations......Page 20 1.3.2 Outline of Book Contents......Page 22 2.1.1 Helping: Belongingness and Solidarity......Page 25 2.1.2 Helping Relations as Hierarchical Relations......Page 27 2.2.1 The Evolutionary Basis of Generosity......Page 30 2.2.1.1 Kin Selection and Inclusive Fitness......Page 31 2.2.1.2 Reciprocal Altruism......Page 32 2.2.1.3 Group Selection......Page 33 2.2.2 Evolutionary Basis of Helping as Hierarchical Relations......Page 34 2.3 Overview of Social Psychological Research......Page 36 Chapter 3 Social Psychology of Help-Giving: The When, Who, and Why of Help-Giving......Page 41 3.1.1.1 The Beginning......Page 43 3.1.1.2 Bystander Intervention: The Social Identity Perspective......Page 48 3.1.1.3 Bystander Intervention: Concluding Comments......Page 50 3.1.2 Social Norms and Helping: Sharing, Social Responsibility, Reciprocity......Page 51 3.1.2.1 Sharing with Others......Page 52 3.1.2.2 The Norm of Social Responsibility......Page 53 3.1.2.3 Reciprocity......Page 54 3.1.2.4 Socioeconomic Determinants of Social Responsibility and Reciprocity......Page 56 3.1.3 Religiosity and Helpfulness......Page 57 3.1.4 Cross-Cultural Differences in Help-Giving ......Page 59 3.1.4.1 Experimental Games......Page 60 3.1.4.2 Social Psychological Research......Page 62 3.2.1 Developmental Antecedents......Page 65 3.2.1.1 The Development of Empathy: from “Global Empathic Distress ”to “Adult Empathy”......Page 66 3.2.1.2 Socialization Practices......Page 68 3.2.2 Characteristics of the Helpful Person’s Personality......Page 72 3.2.2.1 The ABC of the Helpful Personality......Page 74 3.2.2.2 Attachment and Helpfulness......Page 77 3.2.2.3 Beyond Empathy and Attachment: Metaphors, Awe, and Vagal Activity......Page 79 3.2.3.1 Gender Differences in Helping......Page 80 3.2.3.2 Socioeconomic Differences: Helpfulness of the Rich and the Poor......Page 84 3.3 “Why Help?”: Empathy, Attribution and Prestige......Page 89 3.3.1 Empathy: Altruism or Selfishness......Page 90 3.3.2 The Quest for Prestige......Page 94 3.3.3.1 Do they Deserve It?......Page 98 3.3.3.2 Models of Helping and Coping......Page 101 4.1 Short- and Long‐term Consequences of Giving......Page 105 4.2 Receiving Help: Gratitude and Threat to Self-Esteem......Page 110 4.2.1 Receiving Help as a Self-Supportive Experience: Gratitude......Page 112 4.2.1.1 Benefit-Triggered/Situational Gratitude: Antecedents and Consequences......Page 113 4.2.1.2 Dispositional Gratitude......Page 121 4.2.2 The Negative Consequences of Receiving Help: The Self-Threat in Dependency......Page 123 4.2.2.1 Who Is the Helper? Effects of Helper Identity on Receptivity to Help......Page 126 4.2.2.2 The How of Help: Characteristics of the Help Provided Ego-centrality......Page 131 4.2.2.3 Effects of Recipient Characteristics on Receptivity to Help......Page 136 4.2.2.4 Cultural Variables: Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures......Page 139 4.2.2.5 The Recipient’s Personality Characteristics......Page 143 Chapter 5 Intergroup Helping Relations......Page 153 5.1 Giving Within the Group: Solidarity or Discrimination?......Page 154 5.1.1 The Motivation for Ingroup and Outgroup Helping: Empathy and Attraction......Page 156 5.2.1 Strategic Helping......Page 159 5.2.2 Discriminatory Helping: Giving Across Racial Boundaries......Page 160 5.2.2.1 Discriminatory Helping as Aversive Racism......Page 162 5.2.2.2 Overcoming Discriminatory Helping: Common Group Identity......Page 163 5.3 Intergroup Helping Relations in Structurally Unequal Contexts......Page 165 5.3.1.1 The Social Structure: Security of Social Hierarchy......Page 166 5.3.1.3 Personal Characteristics of Group Members......Page 168 5.3.2 The Low-Status Group: Seeking and Receiving from the Advantaged Group......Page 170 5.3.3 The High-Status Group: Giving to the Disadvantaged......Page 173 5.3.3.1 Defensive Helping: Helping to Protect Ingroup’s Status......Page 174 5.3.3.2 Perceptions of Help Seeking by High- and Low-Status Group Members......Page 178 5.4 Closing Comments: Intergroup Helping......Page 180 6.1 Solidarity and Hierarchy in Helping Relations......Page 183 6.2 Beyond the Help/No Help Dichotomy......Page 184 6.3 From Helping to Equality-Based Interactions......Page 186 References......Page 189 Index......Page 227 EULA......Page 245 ''Examines the major aspects of giving and receiving help in interpersonal and intergroup relationsThis unique book extends the traditional emphasis on interpersonal help-giving in order to consider a wider spectrum of interpersonal and intergroup helping relations. Help giving is viewed as reflecting people’s care for others, while at the same time dependency on help and giving help imply lower and higher places on the social hierarchy, respectively. It studies the psychology of what goes into helping someone and integrates experimental work conducted in the social psychological laboratory with applied research from volunteer organizations, schools, and work and family environments. In addition to research on the giving of help, the book considers the recipient of help and reviews research and theory on people's readiness to seek and receive help. Unlike much of past research in this context that has been interested in the “generosity question” (i.e., whether or not people help others) the book considers how different kinds of assistance (i.e., autonomy and dependency-oriented help) shape helping interactions. It then goes beyond the analyses of the immediate helping interaction to consider the long-term consequences of giving and receiving help. Finally, the book addresses theory and research on intergroup helping relations.Social Psychology of Helping Relations: Solidarity and Hierarchy begins with a general introduction to the topic. It then offers a series of broad perspectives, covering the philosophical and psychological theory, evolution, and overview of social psychological research. Next, the book looks at the social psychology of helping relations, examining the parties involvedt, and the “why” behind their actions. The positives and negatives of giving and receiving assistance, and the links between status and interpersonal and intergroup helping relations are also covered. It considers how giving, seeking and receiving help maintains or challenges status relations between individuals and groups. The book finishes with a conclusion that wraps up the many lessons learned.Looks at solidarity and inequality in social interactionsExamines why people are ready to give and receive helpStudies the consequences of giving and receiving helpHighlights important implications to different kinds of help beyond the dichotomy between giving/receiving help or notAddresses research and theory on interpersonal and intergroup helping relationsThe implications of helping relations for personal and social changeSocial Psychology of Helping Relations: Solidarity and Hierarchy is an ideal book for advanced students, researchers and individuals interested in social psychology, counselling, social work, Sociology, and Political Science. ''-- Site de l'éditeur "Books on the social psychology of helping share a common emphasis on the question of interpersonal help-giving and focus on: Who helps Whom, When and Why. This project will extend this traditional emphasis and consider a wider spectrum of interpersonal and intergroup helping relations. First, in addition to research on the giving of help the book will consider the recipient of help and review research and theory on people's readiness to seek and receive help. Second, it will go beyond the analyses of the immediate helping interaction to consider the long-term consequences of giving and receiving help. Third, the book will highlight that beyond the dichotomy between giving/receiving help or not, there are important implications to different kinds of help (e.g., that encourages dependency or autonomy). Finally, the proposed book will address research and theory on interpersonal and intergroup helping relations"-- Provided by publisher