The effects of anonymity of the help-seeker and locus of need attribution on help-seeking behavior were investigated. The results indicate that the locus of need attribution affects amount of help-seeking only if the individual remains anonym- ous. When identifiable, the subjects refrained from help-seeking regardless of locus of need attribution. The applied and concep- tual implications of these findings are discussed and the role of anonymity of help-seeker as an important condition in the paradigm of help-seeking behavior is elaborated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Tessler, R.C. , Schwartz, S.H.Help-seeking, self-esteem and achievement motivation: An attributional analysis, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 21, 318-326.
2.
Kelley, H.H.Attribution theory in social psychology. In D. Levine (Ed.) Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, Lincoln, Neb., University of Nebraska Press, 1967, 192-240.
3.
Nadler, A. , Fisher, J.D., Streufert, S., When helping hurts: The effects of donor-recipient similarity and recipient self-esteem on helping behavior, Journal of Personality, 1976, 44, 392-409.
4.
McKinlay, H.B. , Some approaches and problems in the study of the use of services; An overview, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 1972, 13, 115-152.