2177: From Inspiration to Shame: When and How Receiving Coworker Help Impact Relational Behaviors (20542)

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

Location: Swissotel: Lucerne II

Session Number: 2177
Paper Session
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/MK7pqp

Author(s)

ZL

Ziyi Li

Changsha U. of Science & Technology
YZ

Yong Zhang

Chongqing U., China
BT

Beijing Tan

Huazhong U. of Science and Technology, China
YZ

Yuan-Fang Zhan

Central China Normal U., China
HC

Huan Cheng

Huazhong U. of Science and Technology, China

Designated as a “Best Paper” by OB
view abridged “best paper” (if available)

Receiving help inherently implies a disparity between the helper and the recipient, potentially triggering upward social comparison. Embracing the autonomous-dependent distinction of received help, we theorize and examine the assimilative and contrastive emotional reactions, as well as the approach and avoidance relational behavior induced by receiving autonomous and dependent help from coworkers. Utilizing a daily diary study involving 114 employees across 10 working days, we find that receiving autonomous help from coworkers is associated with inspiration and subsequent social expansion, and relationship closeness further augmented this relationship. In contrast, receiving dependent help from coworkers is associated to shame and subsequent social withdrawal, and relationship closeness further attenuated this relationship. We discuss the implications of our findings for both theory and practice.

view paper (if available)