The Dark Side of a Coworker Receiving Help

Abstract

The majority of research on helping behavior has focused on the consequences for the helpers and receivers of this behavior, ignoring its consequences on third-party observers (i.e., the person who witnesses the helping event). We shift this predominant focus by investigating how a coworker receiving help impacts third-party observers. By integrating a cognitive-affective processing system framework and sociometer theory, we examined the negative cognitive and affective reactions to a coworker receiving help. Results from an experience sampling study showed that a coworker receiving prompts third-party observers to engage in withdrawal behaviors through their diminished self-esteem (cognitive response) and enhanced anxiety (affective response). Additionally, our results showed that the negative consequences of a coworker receiving help could be mitigated for employees with high (vs. low) team identification. This paper concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.