Help-Seeking in Hindu and Sikh Culture as Determined by Anonymity, Identifiability, Locus of Need Attribution, And Sex

Although help is welcomed whole-heartedly and viewed as something of instrumental value, there is growing evidence that recipient reactions to aid are not comprised solely of favorable responses. The receipt of aid may be either a self-threatening or self-supportive experience for the recipient. The study hypothesized that receipt of aid which is self-threatening may not be welcomed by the recipient. Hindus and Sikhs were hypothesized to differ significantly in terms of help seeking. In the present research the effect of anonymity vs. identifiability, locus of need attribution (external vs. internal), and sex on help seeking behaviour were investigated The results indicated that help was sought more when the condition was anonymous than identifiable, when need attribution was external than internal, and the sex of help seeker was female.