Social Determinants of Perception: Power, Equity, and Status Effects in an Exchange Situation

Abstract

Emphasizing the perceptual interdependence of social exchange partners, this study tests hypotheses derived from assumptions about self-enhancing social categorization coupled with the perspective adopted by the perceiver. Subjects assumed the role of a typist who, as described in a vignette, conducts a transaction with a student seeking typing services. Social factors defining categories included structural power position (typist lowlother high; typist highlother low), outcome equity (underreward, equity, overreward), and status congruence between the task and the sex composition of the dyad (female typistlmale other; male typistlfemale other). Evaluation and rationality components emerged from factor analysis involving indicators of perceptions of self and other. Results confirm the expected positive relationship between power and favorable self-perceptions. Outcome equity affected perceptions differentially, influencing self's rationality and other's evaluation. Status congruence effects were nonsignificant. Implications for reactions to inequity are discussed.