This work explored the potential negative consequences of unexpected help. A behavioral observation and a survey study found that men are unlikely to have the door held open for them in a chivalrous manner, whereby they walk through the door before the person helping them does. In an experimental field study, passersby were randomly assigned to experience this type of door-holding help or not. Males who had the door held for them in this manner by a male confederate reported lower self-esteem and self-efficacy than males who did not have the door held for them. Females were unaffected by door-holding condition. These results demonstrate negative consequences of seemingly innocuous but unexpected helping behavior that violates gender norms.
CITATION STYLE
McCarty, M. K., & Kelly, J. R. (2015). When door holding harms: gender and the consequences of non-normative help. Social Influence, 10(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/15534510.2013.869252
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