Help, you know I need somebody: an analysis of helping behavior
Abstract
Previous studies have explored the world of intentional and real-life helping behavior, but few have targeted how the type of relationship affects helping behavior. In this study, the researcher examined this relationship by creating three different scenarios of a kin-member, a friend, and a stranger. Participants were randomly assigned to one of these groups. They read three situations with varied intensities (high, medium, and low) in which participants could help a target. Intentional and real-life helping behavior scales were given to measure the pro-social tendencies of each participant. Results indicate that there is a relationship between the type of target and the intentions to help. However, intentional helping does not always translate into behaving prosocially in real-life.