Izvorni znanstveni članak

Group size, power allocation, and change: Effects on conceptual representations of group interaction

Radmila Prišlin
P. Niels Christensen
Elizabeth Jacobs

Sažetak

This study examined conceptual representations of interactions between stable and changed minority and majority factions within groups that allocated power either according to size (power = size) or randomly. In support of the hypothesized moderating effect of power allocation, it was found that both stable and changed minority and majority factions represented their interactions at low levels of inclusiveness when power was allocated according to size. When, however, power was not associated with size, stable majorities, but not stable minorities, represented group interactions at the inclusive level of a single group. Loss of the majority position significantly decreased this inclusive level of representation but gain of the majority position did not result in the corresponding increase. Nevertheless, the new majority in the random power condition represented its interaction with others at a significantly higher level of inclusiveness than did the new majority in the “power = size” condition. These results suggest that associating power with size invariably places interactions between the majority and the minority into the inter-group domain. Dissociating power from size, however, places such interactions within the intra-group domain for the stable majority and creates a potential for a similar socio-categorical structuring for the new majority (former minority).

Ključne riječi

majority; minority; social power; social change; conceptual representation; inclusiveness

Hrčak ID:

2312

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/2312

Datum izdavanja:

12.4.2006.

Posjeta: 910 *