How Perceptions of Deservingness and Permanence Affect Peripheral Group Member’ Helping Behavior

Abstract

Drawing upon organizational justice and social identity theories, the author examined how peripheral members of workgroups (i.e., individuals who perceive that they are on the fringes of their group) respond to their marginal group status. Specifically, in a cross-sectional field study, the paper explored the role of perceived deservingness of peripherality and perceived permanence of peripherality in shaping peripheral group members’ supervisor-rated helping behavior. Data from 36 matched supervisor-employee pairs were used to test this hypothesis. Results indicate that there is a negative relationship between perceived deservingness of peripherality and supervisor-rated helping behavior and that this effect is stronger when the peripheral position is perceived to be less permanent. In developing and testing these arguments, the goal is to contribute to literature on peripherality and status by examining how perceptions about the nature of one’s peripheral status affect helping behavior in groups. Implications of the findings for practitioners and future research are discussed.