helpfulness n
1. the property of providing useful assistance
2. friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition [syn: kindliness]

Helpful \Help"ful\, a. Furnishing help; giving aid; assistant; useful; salutary. Heavens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him! --Shak. -- Help"ful*ly, adv. -- Help"ful*ness, n. --Milton.

In social psychology, the everyday concept of helpfulness is really technically defined as (1) the property of providing useful assistance, and (2) friendliness evidenced by a kindly and helpful disposition .

For many years, social psychologists have been searching for answers to these questions:

Several theories of helping agree that, in the long run, helping behavior benefits the giver as well as the receiver. One explanation assumes that human interactions are guided by a "social economics". We exchange not only material goods and money but also social goods - love, services, information status (Foa & Foa, 1975). In doing so, we use a "minimax" strategy - minimize costs, maximize rewards.

Circumstances that inhibit or enhance helpfulness include:

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