Social Personality Psych - 2023 - Moreton - Social support from weak ties Insight from the literature on minimal social.pdf (246.66 kB)
Social support from weak ties: insight from the literature on minimal social interactions
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 05:53 authored by Joshua Moreton, Caitlin S Kelly, Gillian SandstromWhen people face difficult life events, such as cancer or bereavement, they fare better when they receive support. These “experiencers” are likely to seek and receive support from a wide range of people, from close others to acquaintances. Indeed, the social support literature has long acknowledged the value of having a diverse support network. Research suggests that experiencers often perceive “weak ties” (i.e., acquaintances) as sources of support, and that experiencers sometimes prefer to get support from weak ties rather than strong ties. Providing support can be challenging for all kinds of supporters, however weak ties may be more likely than strong ties to allow worries about their inability to provide effective support to stop them from providing any support at all, thus depriving experiencers of opportunities for additional support. In this paper, we focus on the fact that often the provision of support occurs via a social interaction. We draw on the social psychology literature on minimal social interactions to suggest reasons why potential weak tie supporters might doubt their ability to provide effective support, and to generate advice to encourage potential supporters to reach out. Finally, we suggest future areas of research, with the ultimate goal of helping to expand the support that is available for people experiencing difficult life events.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Social and Personality Psychology CompassISSN
1751-9004Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Page range
e12729 1-12Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2023-01-06First Open Access (FOA) Date
2023-01-18First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2023-01-05Usage metrics
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