Abstract:

Intergroup helping refers to the helping behavior toward out-group members offered by representatives of one’s in-group. There are two forms of intergroup helping: autonomy-oriented help and dependency-oriented help. Autonomy-oriented help, which is motivated by the helper’s assimilation need, provides the recipient with the means to solve problems on their own. This in turn decreases the social disparity between the high-status helper and the lower-status recipient group; Dependency-oriented help, which is motivated by the helper’s differentiation need, provides the recipient with a full solution to the problem, thus maintain or enlarge the social disparity between them and leads to the low-status group’s chronic dependence on the high-status group.

Key words: autonomy-oriented help, dependency-oriented help, assimilation need, differentiation need