Meta-stereotypes, social image and help seeking: dependency-related meta-stereotypes reduce help-seeking behaviour

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Wakefield, J.R.H. ORCID: 0000-0001-9155-9683, Hopkins, N. and Greenwood, R.M., 2013. Meta-stereotypes, social image and help seeking: dependency-related meta-stereotypes reduce help-seeking behaviour. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 23 (5), pp. 363-372. ISSN 1099-1298

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/casp.2126

Abstract

People who need help can be reluctant to seek it. This can be due to social image concerns. Here, we investigate if these concerns may be prompted by a salient negative meta-stereotype: the belief that one’s group is judged negatively by another group. Specifically, we researched group members’ help-seeking behaviour in the context of a dependency-related meta-stereotype. In a two-condition study (N = 45), we manipulated participants’ belief that their national group was judged dependent by a significant out-group. We then examined their subsequent help-seeking behaviour on a real-world task. Participants whose social identity as a group member was salient showed greater reluctance to seek help when the meta-stereotype was made prominent compared with when it was not. This suggests that, in a context where social image and social identity concerns are relevant, group members are willing to sacrifice the possibility of accessing needed help in order to avoid confirming a negative stereotype of their group. The implications of these results for helping transactions and community development are discussed.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

Creators:

Wakefield, J.R.H., Hopkins, N. and Greenwood, R.M.

Publisher:

John Wiley

Place of Publication:

Chichester

Date:

2013