Helping Orientations: Four Dimensions

The underlying factor structure of four helping and coping orientations was investigated. The four orientations are the foundations of four models of helping and coping. Each model consists of a person's orientations toward helping behavior and the set of likely factors and behaviors related to the orientations. The orientations are believed to influence how a person interacts with others in a helping situation and how that person attempts to help himself (cope). Factor analysis in two studies supports the prediction of four helping orientations across a convenience and a target sample. Secondary, higher-order factor analysis further provides support based on the convenience sample, but not the target sample.