GIVEN FISH OR TAUGHT TO FISH? THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF RECEIVING DEPENDENCY-ORIENTED VERSUS AUTONOMY-ORIENTED HELP

Abstract

The purpose of my dissertation is to provide a holistic understanding of the consequences of receiving help at work. First, building on the typology of dependency-oriented help (giving a man a fish) versus autonomy-oriented help (teaching a man to fish), I developed and validated a scale to measure receipt of these two types of help from coworkers (Study 1). Second, drawing on the threat to self-esteem model and the literature on gratitude, I examined both positive and negative consequences of receiving these two types of help (Study 2). Results largely supported the conclusion that recipients reacted more negatively to receiving dependency-oriented help (with reduced work self-efficacy), but more positively to receiving autonomy-oriented help (with enhanced work self-efficacy and gratitude). Further, it was gratitude, but not work self-efficacy, that carried the effect of receiving help to the point of influencing recipients’ performance and well-being. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.