Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Helping them stay where they are: status effects on dependency/autonomy-oriented helping
Arie Nadler1, Lily Chernyak-Hai2
1School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 28, 2013
Summary
Social status influences how help is given. Low-status individuals receive dependency-oriented help, while high-status individuals get autonomy-oriented assistance, impacting perceptions of competence and need.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Expectation states theory posits status influences interaction dynamics.
- Weiner's attributional model explains help-giving based on perceived causes of need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how social status affects help-seeking perceptions and behaviors.
- To examine whether help provided is dependency- or autonomy-oriented based on seeker's status.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted to test predictions derived from expectation states theory and attributional models.
- Participants' perceptions of help seekers' status, ability, and motivation were assessed.
- The type of help offered (dependency- vs. autonomy-oriented) was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Low-status help seekers were perceived as lacking ability, leading to dependency-oriented help (full solutions).
- High-status help seekers were seen as motivated, receiving autonomy-oriented help (tools).
- Seeking autonomy-oriented help mitigated negative perceptions of dependency for low-status individuals.
Conclusions:
- Social status significantly shapes attributions about help seekers and the nature of help provided.
- Help-seeking can be perceived as weakness or strength depending on social status.
- Findings have implications for understanding and addressing social inequality in helping contexts.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
01:24Attachment Styles
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
01:27Relationship Growth
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:17Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory
Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formulated by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, explains that human motivation is driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, individuals experience personal growth, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who is...
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who is...