 | Term | Definition |
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status |
a group member's standing in the hierarchy of a group based on the prestige, honor, and deference accorded him or her by other members |
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status system |
the distribution of power and prestige among a group's members, including the "chain of command" |
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achieved status |
status that is earned |
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ascribed status |
status given to individuals by virtue of their having some characteristic that a group has designated as prestigious and valuable |
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status markers |
nonverbal and verbal behaviours that signify status, such as strong eye contact and commanding and interrupting others |
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status dues system |
what the group requires of members before they are awarded a higher status |
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status violation |
when low-status members engage in behaviors that are inappropriate given their rank and face resistance from higher-status members. |
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ethological approach to status |
suggests that the physical strength and size of members influences their status in the group |
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expectation states theory |
proposes that groups make status assignments based on expectations of each member's ability and potential to contribute to the group |
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performance expectations |
assumptions about the ability of other group members to contribute to the group's goals, often based on status characteristics |
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status characteristics |
personal characteristics, such as skills, experience, or demographic factors, that influence performance expectations |
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specific-status characteristics |
skill- or experience-related status characteristics |
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diffuse-status characteristics |
demographically derived status characteristics, such as age, ethnicity, gender, or attractiveness |
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task cues |
behaviors that provide information about a member's actual or potential performance on the task and thereby influence performance expectations |
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status characteristics theory |
a branch of expectation states theory that focuses on how status hierarchies in groups will form consistent with statuses that members possess in society at large |
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self-fulfilling prophecy |
when our stereotypes lead us to trea stereotyped members differently and this treatment elicits stereotype-conforming behavior from them |
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stereotype threat |
how awareness of others' stereotypes of us may create performance anxiety and lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy |
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political behavior |
actions taken by group members to gain a power or status advantage over others |
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equity theory |
says that people desire equity and decide whether what they receive is fair depending on how it compares to what others receieve |
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underpayment inequity |
occurs when people believe that what they receive is unfair relative to what others receive and act to restore equity by increasing their outcomes or decreasing their inputs |
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fraternal deprivation |
the perception that one's group in unfairly given a low status relative to other groups |
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power |
the ability of a group member to get other members to do what he or she wants them to do |
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social power theory |
a theory that suggests that a group member's power depends on his or her access to different power bases or sources |
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legitimate power |
when a member is seen as having the right to tell other members what to do because of his/her position of authority in the group |
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reward power |
when a member has power over other members because he or she controls resources and can administer rewards that other members want |
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coercive power |
when a member has power over other members because she or he can deliver punishments to members who do not comply |
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expert power |
when a member is able to influence others because of his or her knowledge or expertise |
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referent power |
when others take up the suggestions of a member out of respect and liking for that member |
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information power |
when a person has power because he or she possesses information that others want |
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persuasive power |
power derived from a person's ability to use rational argument, facts, and persuasion to influence others |
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charisma |
power that originates in an individual's charm or enthusiasm |
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position power |
power that is based on a person's formal position in the group; includes legitimate, reward, coercive, and information power |
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personal power |
power that arises from a person's individual characteristics; includes expert, referent, persuasive, and charisma power |
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influence tactics |
the specific behaviors that individuals use to wield power and influence others |
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