SALLY GARDNER, VIA EMAIL
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ASK FOR HELP?
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
PETE LAWRENCE Astronomy
DR CHRISTIAN JARRETT Psychology
AMY ARTHUR Health & wellbeing
DR HELEN PILCHER Biology
IAN TAYLOR Human body
DR NISH MANEK Medicine
LUIS VILLAZON Technology
DR HELEN SCALES Marine biology
HAYLEY BENNETT Nature
There are many understandable reasons why you might find it difficult to ask for help when you need it. And you’re far from the only one. Psychologists have been interested in this question for decades, not least because people’s widespread reluctance to ask for help has led to some high-profile failures, such as the problems that afflicted the Hubble Space Telescope after its launch, or the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. These failures and many others were exacerbated by the unwillingness of key players to seek help and advice.