被妒忌类型对助人决策的影响
The Influence of the Type of being Envied on Helping Decision
林淑惠 1常立佳 2刘馨洁 1李中权1
作者信息
- 1. 南京大学
- 2. 南京大学;伊犁师范大学
- 折叠
摘要
助人行为是个体应对被妒忌消极影响的重要策略之一，但现有研究在被妒忌感与助人行为的关系上存在分歧：关系维护视角认为被妒忌会促使个体通过助人来修复关系，而地位维持视角认为会抑制助人以保护优势地位。本研究整合上述双重视角，系统考察被妒忌类型(善意vs.恶意)及伤害行为的有无对助人意愿及帮助类型偏好(自主定向型vs.依赖定向型)的影响，并检验能动性的中介作用及人际亲密度的调节效应。三项研究(N = 838)发现，被恶意妒忌仅在妒忌者存在伤害行为时，显著降低助人意愿并减弱对自主帮助的偏好，该效应以能动性的提升为中介；无伤害行为时，被恶意妒忌的影响则较弱。被善意妒忌对助人意愿的促进在低竞争情境中(如校园)更为显著，在高竞争情境中(如职场)则相对较弱，且在低威胁情境下，个体更偏好自主帮助。此外，人际亲密度能够缓冲被恶意妒忌(含伤害行为)对助人意愿的负向影响。本研究揭示，被妒忌者的助人决策本质上是关系维护与地位维持目标的动态权衡结果。这既为调和现有理论分歧提供了实证支撑，也为理解竞争情境下的助人策略选择提供了新视角。
Abstract
Being the target of envy is a complex social phenomenon that profoundly shapes interpersonal dynamics. However, existing research has primarily focused on the envious individual, with limited attention to how those who are envied respond, particularly their willingness to engage in prosocial behavior. Findings remain inconsistent: some studies link being envied to increased prosocial behavior aimed at relationship maintenance, whereas others report reduced helping tendencies driven by status protection. These inconsistencies may stem from a failure to distinguish between benign envy (rooted in admiration) and malicious envy (associated with resentment and potential harm). Additionally, prior research has largely neglected distinctions between types of helpspecifically, autonomous help (which empowers recipients to solve problems independently) versus dependent help (which provides direct solutions). This study examined how benign versus malicious envy influences helping willingness and preferences for help types. We hypothesized that malicious envy would reduce helping willingness (H1a) and preference for autonomous help (H2a), whereas benign envy would enhance both (H1b and H2b). These effects were expected to be mediated by agency and communion (H3aH3b), moderated by interpersonal closeness (H4aH5b).Three studies investigated how being envied shapes helping behavior. In Study 1 (N = 405), participants recalled a personal experience of being envied, reported their perceptions of benign versus malicious envy, and indicated their willingness to adopt three types of responses in daily scenarios: no help, autonomous help, or dependent help. Study 2 (N = 216) manipulated envy type (benign, malicious without harm, malicious with harm) and a control condition, then measured participants helping intentions (no help, autonomous help, dependent help) using hypothetical scenarios. Study 3 (N = 217; all with work experience) manipulated envy type and interpersonal closeness (high vs. low) in work-related contexts, while assessing participants agency and communion levels as well as their helping intentions.Study 1 revealed that malicious envy reduced helping willingness (especially for autonomous help), whereas benign envy promoted helping, particularly in low-competition contexts. Study 2 confirmed that malicious envy with harm significantly reduced helping willingness, with a stronger effect on autonomous than dependent help; malicious envy without harm did not differ from the control condition. In Study 3, agency mediated the negative effect of malicious envy with harm on helping willingness and preference for autonomous help, whereas communion showed no significant mediation. Interpersonal closeness moderated these relationships: higher closeness attenuated the negative impact of malicious envy with harm on helping willingness, although it did not significantly influence preferences for help types.This research clarifies how being envied shapes helping decisions by distinguishing between benign and malicious envy. Specifically, malicious envy with harm reduced helping willingness (particularly for autonomous help) through increased agency, whereas benign envy promoted helping in less competitive contexts. Interpersonal closeness mitigated these negative effects, underscoring the role of relational dynamics. By examining different types of help, this study advanced our understanding of prosocial behavior beyond binary help/no-help categorizations. Theoretically, it reconciled conflicting findings by elucidating the psychological mechanisms underlying different types of envy. Practically, it suggests that fostering close relationships may mitigate the negative impact of malicious envy, thereby promoting cooperation in social and workplace contexts. Future research could explore additional mediators, such as threat perception.关键词
被妒忌类型/助人决策/帮助类型/能动性/人际亲密度Key words
being envied/helping decision/autonomy-oriented help/agency/interpersonal closeness引用本文复制引用
林淑惠,常立佳,刘馨洁,李中权.被妒忌类型对助人决策的影响[EB/OL].(2026-03-26)[2026-03-29].https://chinaxiv.org/abs/202603.00155.学科分类
科学、科学研究
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