Sidestepping the rock and the hard place: The private avoidance of prosocial requests

• Main Authors: LIN, Stephanie C., SCHAUMBERG, Rebecca L., REICH, Taly
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2016
• Subjects: Prosocial behavior; Self-interest; Morality; Decision making; Avoidance; Marketing; Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5260; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/6259/viewcontent/SideSteppingRoackhardPlace_2016.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

For some, facing a prosocial request feels like being trapped between a rock and a hard place, requiring either a resource (e.g., money) or psychological (e.g., self-reproach) cost. Because both outcomes are dissatisfying, we propose that these people are motivated to avoid prosocial requests, even...