The meaning of seeking help: The effects of ascribed and achieved status of the help-seeker on observer attributions, expectations, and willingness to offer help

Abstract

Research indicates that sometimes people rely on limited sources of information when judging a person or group. Unable to see the “whole picture,” they, usually unconsciously, often fill in missing pieces of information themselves. Ascribed and achieved status dimensions assist in the process of social perception. Drawing on recent research on intergroup helping and focusing on evaluations of potential helpers, this research investigates inferences and attributions made by observers and their willingness to offer help while considering the effects of ascribed and achieved status dimensions of the help-seeker. We conducted a pilot study and two additional studies exploring the implications of this link in real-life settings. Our findings indicate that seeking help may be viewed as a sign of insufficient effort, particularly for individuals characterized by low ascribed and achieved status dimensions, and, thus, as stigma-consistent behavior. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.