Group Persistence Among Air Wardens

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T HIS paper presents some of conclusions drawn from a study in persistence of a social group, much of whose original rationale has been dissipated. The specific organization is that of Air Wardens in a New York City sector', and time of study is winter of 1943-44. The lies in mid-Manhattan. It is rather cleanly dichotomized by one of city's broad avenues: to west lie large wholesale firms; to east, a section of apartment houses and private homes-mainly converted brickfronts and brownstones-with a number of retail stores, several schools, and a few office buildings. The inhabitants are predominantly middle class, by any of usual criteria. Most of them are clericaland professional people; others are small merchants and artisans. The wardens provide a fairly representative sample of local population, slightly weighted in favor of professional group. The exact size of group is difficult to determine, since there is no formal distinction between active'wardens and those whQ, once enrolled, have never resigned but who seldom or never participate. The number' of nominal Air Wardens is between seventy-five and eighty. Of these, thirty or forty can be counted on for regular attendance at meetings and for two hours a week of sector duty at headquarters. At least this number may be expected to turn out for a test blackout; in event of a real attack, entire membership would probably be at their posts. Systematic observations of group were begun in October 1943 and continued until February 1944. This period of study was, however, preceded by a year of participation in group's activities, and some of impressions arising out of that experience were used as guides for later research. During months of study, careful notes on behavior as expressed in word and action were recorded along with whatever background material suggested itself. As artfully as it could be done, conversations were steered in pertinent directions, but care was taken to leave structuring of response in hands of informants. If at any time they showed a disinclination to pursue subject, it was allowed to drop until a better opportunity presented itself. At length, when it became evident that, owing to current low rate of interaction between members, this technique was producing diminishing returns, six representative wardens were subjected to interviews, lasting on average hour or hour and a half. The small number of interviews may be excused on two grounds: long period of participation and observation which had preceded interviewing, and homogeneity of group in question. The point of departure for study of this group is its original rationale-at time of its organization in June 1941. The concept of rationale is fundamental to our discussion. By it is meant an emotionally meaningful basis for activity. The original rationale for group (and for whole network of protective services) rested on expectation that New York, along with other cities of American mainland, would be subjected to aerial bombardment. This expectation could not, in nature of case, be based on knowledge derived from direct experience. The technical possibility of long-range air attack had been established, but beyond that lay unstructured field in which no one possessed sure knowledge. Strictly speaking, this is, of course, always case; we cannot be certain today, nor can citizens of London, that bombs either will or will not fall. But Londoners can reckon probabilities on basis of last night's raid; we cannot and could not in 1940 and '41. In absence of this kind of knowledge, a statement that air attack was to be expected, therefore, could rest its claim for acceptance only on authority of those making it and on various sentiments and beliefs which could be called on to bolster official expectations. These expectations were only gradually aroused. The official admission that bombing of American * For his aid and suggestions I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to Dr. Robert K. Merton. 1 A covers area of city containing homes of about 500 people. It is officially regarded as the basic unit of Civilian Defense.