Social goals and willingness to seek help for school violence

The relation between students’ social goals and their willingness to seek help for school violence was examined. Four hundred and sixty-two students from sixth, eighth, and tenth grades responded to vignettes used to assess willingness to seek help from teachers and friends for dealing with relational and physical violence. Intimacy goals enhanced the willingness to seek help from friends and social status goals suppressed the willingness to seek help from teachers. Sex and grade differences were also found, and are discussed with reference to the negative psychological costs of seeking help in school.

► The relation between students’ social goals and willingness to seek help for school violence was studied.
► Intimacy goals enhance the willingness to seek help from friends.
► Social status goals suppress the willingness to seek help from teachers.