Accentuate the Positive: Positive Sentiments and Status in Task Groups

• Published in: Social psychology quarterly Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 7 - 26
• Main Authors: Bianchi, Alison J., Lancianese, Donna A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA American Sociological Association 01.03.2007; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Behavior; Beliefs; Biological and medical sciences; Cook, Gary; Decision Making; Emotions; Friendship; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender Differences; Generalization; Group dynamics; Group processes; Group Work; Hierarchy; Interpersonal Relationship; Legitimacy; Men; Moderation; Ohio; Participation; Persuasive Discourse; Positive emotions; Positive reinforcement; Psychological Patterns; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Questionnaires; Sentiment; Sex; Social change; Social classes; Social interaction; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social order; Social psychology; Social Status; Social Theories; T tests; Task centred group work; Two on Groups; Undergraduate Students; Visual contrast sensitivity; Ohio; United States > US; Chicago Illinois; Human; Affect affectivity; Social interaction; Social group; Sex; Expectation; Performance; Interpersonal relation
• ISSN: 0190-2725; 1939-8999
• DOI: 10.1177/019027250707000104

We explore the capacity of positive sentiments, those enduring affective states one achieves when one likes another, to impact status structures. Do positive sentiments combine with existing aspects of interaction to create status hierarchies and potentially change the social order, or do they moderate the effects of extant structure by dampening the magnitude of status differences? Using the theoretical framework of Status Characteristics Theory (SCT) and the Camilleri-Berger model of decision-making, we designed an experiment to adjudicate between these two potentialities. Participation in the study consisted of 168 students. Results found support for the notion that positive sentiments moderate the effects of structural factors on indicators of social status; interestingly, this moderation effect varies by gender. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings, and new directions for research concerning sentiment and status processes.