Effects of group support on the evaluation of an antagonist.

Abstract

UR IMPRESSIONS of others are determined not alone by information which these others directly provide; the verbal and gestural responses of a "stimulus person" (SP) are typically assessed by a perceiver in relation to the situation in which they occur (Jones & Thibaut, 1958). In many cases, the perceiver himself is a component of this situation. He must therefore consider his own behavior as a condition affecting the other's responses and the meaning he assigns to them. If A, for example, is aware of his own role in the instigation of hostile behavior in B, he is less likely to think of B as hostile or unpleasant, than he would if he were unaware of the provocation he himself provided.It seems to follow that, in the typical social interaction, evaluations of others on the basis of their responses are contingent on the perceiver's evaluation of his own behavior. If the perceiver behaves in a "good" fashion and this elicits a "bad" response (e.g., a negative evaluation, a frown, a critical comment) from the SP, the latter will be judged as personally bad by the perceiver. If the perceiver is unconvinced that his own behavior is good, worthy, or appropriate, he will be less likely to form a negative evaluation of SP. This line of reasoning suggests an experimental situation in which one person (the SP) responds with hostility to the behavior of another (the perceiver) which is or is not highly valued by the perceiver himself.

Communicator importance and interpersonal attitudes toward conforming and deviant group members.

“…One may speculate that an increase in the number of attitudinally conforming group members could result in yet greater differences in evaluative attitudes toward deviant group members. For instance, Strickland, Jones, and Smith (1960) have shown that group support increases unfavorable attitudes toward deviant group members. The more unfavorable an attitude would be under minimal interaction distance conditions, the greater the score range within which differences in ratings of a deviant group member could occur with changes in interaction distance.…”

Social exchange theory: An integrative approach to social conformity.

“…Willis (1964c) reported that both independents and anticonformers tended to be disliked. Other support for the general proposition that deviates received less approval or more disapproval has been reported by Hollander (1961), Streufert (1965), Emerson (1954), Byrne (1961), andStrickland, Jones, andSmith (1960).…”

Violent Behavior in Interpersonal Relationships

“…Individuals attracted to the audience (family, friends, spouse) are more susceptible to the influence of the audience (Kiesler and Corbin, 1965). The more ego perceives that he has the support of the audience, the greater his level of hostility toward alter (Strickland et al, 1960). Because self-conception and public identity are heightened by the audience's acceptance of ego's claim for deference and prestige, ego may continue to escalate the hostility.…”