That's What Friends are for: The Determinants of Psychological Helping

Abstract

This study examined whether a model developed to explain intervention by strangers in a physical emergency situation could be used to explain a person helping a psychologically distressed friend. Subjects read scenarios of such a situation in which the time requested of the helper, the deservingness of the recipient of the help, and ability to diffuse responsibility were systematically manipulated. Estimates of the costs of helping, costs of not helping, and willingness to help were obtained. In the first of two studies, it was found that the independent variables affected the cost estimates and helping in the manner specified by the model. In addition, women helped more than men. In the second study, path analysis was used to more directly test the model and it was found to be valid. These results suggest a commonality between physical and psychological helping. The utility of simulation to study these phenomena was discussed.