Peer Responses to Low Performers: An Attributional Model of Helping in the Context of Groups

Abstract

We propose that low performer characteristics (cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and job experience) inlluence peer attributions for low performer behavior (locus ol causality, controllability, and stability) and that these attributions influence the form of helping intended to benefit the group (compensating, training, motivating, and rejecting the low perlormer). Our model complements organizational citizenship behavior research by suggesting a new set of helping antecedents and extends applications of attributional theory by focusing on peer attributions of coworkers.