On helping lower status out‐groups: The nature of the help and the stability of the intergroup status hierarchy

Abstract

The current research expanded upon previous theoretical and empirical arguments regarding the nature of intergroup helping. In doing so, we considered the role of relative in-group status, the stability of this status, and the type of help provided. In a scenario study, we observed that members of a relatively high status group more strongly supported the provision of assistance to in-group members than members of a lower status out-group when the assistance was empowering in nature and when the high in-group status was unstable. When the intergroup status differences were stable, however, support for empowerment help to members of a lower status out-group was not significantly lower than support for such help to in-group members. We discuss these data with reference to realistic intergroup conflict theory and social identity theory.

Knocking on the Outgroup's Door: Seeking Outgroup Help Under Conditions of Task or Relational Conflict

“…Whether it is financial assistance or specific expertise, the receipt of help can improve the helpee's situation. Help is useful in promoting learning (A. M. Ryan & Pintrich, 1997) and in removing barriers that interfere with the ability to achieve important goals (Cunningham & Platow, 2007;Jackson & Esses, 2000). In organizational contexts, the importance of seeking help has long been recognized as an important part of organizational learning (Ashford & Cummings, 1985;Morrison, 2002;Rashman, Withers, & Hartley, 2009;Schilling & Kluge, 2009).…”

Help Less or Help More —Perceived Intergroup Threat and Out-Group Helping

“…Together, the existing literature suggests that perceived threats -including perceptions that one's values are being violated, economic competition, group status instability, and harmful actions to public health -reduce prosocial behavior toward the target out-group (Cunningham & Platow, 2007;Flippen, et al, 1996;Jackson & Esses, 1997. Therefore, we expect that intergroup threat not only increases negative intergroup attitudes and behavior, but also decreases positive intergroup behavior, specifically, out-group helping.…”

“…In the present research, the manipulation of intergroup threat concerns a history of warfare between national groups, since evidence has shown that groups with a long history of conflict are the most prone to perceive realistic intergroup threat (Shamir & Sagiv-Schifter, 2006;. unemployment problems) (Cunningham & Platow, 2007;Jackson & Esses, 1997. In the present research, the helping context concerns a natural disaster.…”

“…After reading an editorial which aimed to elicit the perception of economic competition, university undergraduates were less likely to support immigrants than participants in the control condition. Group status instability also inhibited prosocial actions toward a lower status out-group (Cunningham & Platow, 2007). Participants from a relatively high status group (Australians), whose group status was perceived stable or unstable, were asked to rate their helping attitudes toward unemployed out-group members from a lower status group (immigrants).…”

“…To elucidate the relationship between perceived intergroup threat and out-group helping, a few issues need to be clarified. For example, one aim of Cunningham & Platow's (2007) study was to examine whether out-group helping was reduced due to perceived economic threats. However, the threat manipulation somehow was not effective; participants did not feel that any threat had been posed.…”