Emotional Reactions and Status in Groups

Abstract

Individuals' emotional reactions may play a role in the development and maintenance of status hierarchies in groups. We propose that emotional reactions compatible with status characteristics reduce status differences among group members, while incompatible emotional reactions increase status differences. We test our theory in four experiments using a variety of techniques. Results from all experiments support the theory. In Study 1, members of face-to-face groups were randomly assigned the position of leader and they reported more positive emotion after group interaction than did other group members. Studies 2, 3, and 4 used a more controlled laboratory setting to show that participants' negative emotion increased their resistance to a partner's influence. Positive emotion decreased resistance. Also, effects of emotions combined with effects of status information as predicted; this result suggests the possibility of beneficial interventions in work groups