What to talk about with co-workers?

[CrysPhys]

You are more likely to receive help from co-workers if they sense that you would be able to help them in return.

If you are always asking for help from your co-workers, and never help them in return, then eventually they will stop helping you, even if you are friends and socialize all the time.

Professional success depends far more on the give-and-take dynamic than friendship and socializing with co-workers.

(I) Well, in your scenario:

(1) A is capable of providing help to B;
(2) B is capable of providing help to A (at least to about the same degree);
(3) A and B have established a pattern in which:
(a) B repeatedly requests help from A; and, in response, A repeatedly provides help to B;
AND
(b) A repeatedly requests help from B; and, in response, B never provides help to A.

So, of course, A gets fed up with B, and stops providing any further help to B. This is an understandable and natural outcome, regardless of any social relationship between A and B.

(II) But consider this scenario:

(1) A is capable of providing help to B;
(2) B is capable of providing help to A (at least to about the same degree);
(3) A and B have not yet established a pattern.

E.g., A and B are both seasoned engineers. B's department has recently folded; and B has transferred to A's department. A and B have never worked on a project together before. B requests help from A for the first time. Now, is A more likely to provide help to B if (i) A knows B socially, and A likes B; (ii) A does not know B socially; or (iii) A knows B socially, and A does not like B?

(III) Also consider this scenario:

(1) A is capable of providing help to B;
(2) B is not capable of providing help to A (at least to about the same degree).

E.g., A is a senior researcher; B is a secretary in another department which is slated to close. A has no expectation of a quid pro quo from B. Is A more likely to provide help to B upon a request from B for help (or, better still, is A more likely to volunteer help to B without an explicit request from B for help) if (i) A knows B socially, and A likes B; (ii) A does not know B socially; or (iii) A knows B socially, and A does not like B?