Effects of Benefactor and Recipient Status on Helping Behavior

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of status and status similarity of benefactor and recipient on helping behavior in a naturalistic situation. Thirty Faculty members and 30 graduate students (all males) were high and low status benefactors, respectively. The high and low status roles of recipient were played by a faculty member and a student, in a residential campus setting. Ss were approached either by a faculty recipient or by a student recipient and asked to (a) rate their willingness and feelings about helping and (b) donate money to victims of recent floods. The results indicated that status of both benefactor and recipient determined helping behavior independently, as well as jointly.