EFFECTS OF PRIOR HELP AND HINDRANCE ON WILLINGNESS TO HELP ANOTHER - RECIPROCITY OR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

72 female undergraduates examined the effects of prior help on subsequent help giving. An ostensible peer (P1) gave 1/3 of the Ss help in winning a prize. Another 1/3 of the Ss received no help, and the remaining Ss were hindered. Another person (P2) needing the Ss help was represented to 1/2 of the Ss as similar to P1 and to the remaining Ss as dissimilar to P1. Prior help led to high help for P2 regardless of P1-P2 similarity. Prior hindrance resulted in hindrance for a similar P2 and help for a dissimilar P2. It was concluded that while an S's help for P2 in the prior help condition was a function of a new norm of social responsibility, an S's hindrance of a similar P2 in the prior hindrance condition was due to either the negative norm of reciprocity or to a generalization of resentment. The relatively high amount of help that the S gave to a dissimilar P2 after receiving hindrance was attributed to the S's exaggerated awareness of the normative requirements of the situation prescribing help. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.