Attitudes toward asking for help: Effects of Perceived Social Status on help-seeking behaviors

Humans engage in many forms of cooperation within social groups, creating the ability for people help others when they are in need. One specific type of cooperation helps alleviate need and manage risk in both kin and non-kin relationships. However, how people ask for help or notice when someone else is in need have not received systematic investigation. In this study, participants’ self-reported socioeconomic status (SES) was collected along with information about their willingness to engage in a variety of help-seeking behaviors in certain situations. Participants’ general emotions and attitudes associated with certain aspects of asking for help were also collected. It was predicted that people with lower SES would be more reluctant to ask due to more negative emotions associated with and more instances of needing to ask for help. People with higher SES were predicted to be more likely to ask for help due to fewer negative emotions associated with asking and less need to ask for help overall. We found that people with lower SES were generally less willingness to engage in help-seeking behaviors compared to those of higher SES. However, results did not support the hypothesis that people with lower SES would experience more negative emotions associated with asking for help. Considering these results, further studies should investigate willingness to seek financial help versus other types of help in personal relationships and from institution-based assistance programs. Future research should also seek to determine how feelings of entitlement in individuals with higher SES affect willingness to ask for and offer help.