Help that works: The effects of aid on subsequent task performance.

Explored the interactive effects of aid, situational "demandingness" (i.e., task difficulty and threatening aspects of the helper's behavior), and help-recipients' self-esteem on recipients' postaid task performance. Based on the threat-to-self-esteem model of reactions to help (J. D. Fisher, in press), and past research (H. Sigall and R. Gould; see record 1977-25438-001) of reactions to help, it was predicted that if aid is threatening or challenging, then only high self-esteem Ss will respond with especially competent postaid task performance. Aspects of the helping context that exacerbate the threat or highlight the challenge posed by aid will further accentuate the difference in performance between high and low self-esteem Ss. Overall, these predictions were confirmed by data generated from 35 low and 43 high self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory) female undergraduates. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)