Response to compatriot and foreigner who seek assistance

5 experiments examined the differential treatment of foreign and compatriot strangers by Parisians, Athenians, and Bostonians in different social contexts. In each case Ss could have been helpful or antisocial toward the compatriot or foreign stranger. A social classification of the Ss was positively related to their helpfulness. The foreigner's use of the language of the city was positively related to the helpfulness received in Paris and Athens, but not in Boston. When differences occurred in the treatment of compatriots and foreigners, the compatriots were treated better in Paris and Boston, but the foreigners were treated better in Athens. Some results in Athens support ingroup-outgroup and role differential findings of H. C. Triandis, V. Vassiliou, and M. Nassiakou.