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Personality and Help Seeking

Autonomous Versus Dependent Seeking of Help

  • Chapter
Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology ((SSSC))

Abstract

Consider an individual who is plagued by a constant feeling of self-doubt. He or she may be incapacitated in social relations and have difficulties concentrating on work. The person suffers and knows that a counselor, psychologist, or even a good friend could help. Yet, he or she fails to seek help. Alternatively, imagine a young engineer who has recently been hired to operate some complex machinery. He or she is unfamiliar with the task. Yet, instead of soliciting the advice of a more experienced coworker, the young engineer continues to “bang his or her head against the wall.” These examples encapsulate the major topic of the present chapter and involve a common dilemma. The individual knows that he or she needs assistance to solve the problem. Yet seeking assistance may be associated with an open admission of failure and dependence on others. These anticipated psychological costs often hinder the seeking of help, which may result in the intensification of the problem (Nadler, 1991).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Arie Nadler

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  1. Arie Nadler
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, 13323, USA

    Gregory R. Pierce

  2. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 48202, USA

    Brian Lakey

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Irwin G. Sarason  & Barbara R. Sarason  & 

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Nadler, A. (1997). Personality and Help Seeking. In: Pierce, G.R., Lakey, B., Sarason, I.G., Sarason, B.R. (eds) Sourcebook of Social Support and Personality. The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1843-7_17

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