The Impact of Status Differences on Coalitional Agreements

An Experimental Study

Bibliographic Data

ID10071828
AuthorsEdward J Lawler (Department of Sociology University of Iowa, corresponding author)
Year1975
Volume19
Issue2
Pages271-285
Publication date1975-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/002200277501900204
OpenAlexW1980897130
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited18

This experiment investigated the impact of status differences between subordinates and face-to-face coalition negotiations on insurgent coalitional action. The effects of these variables were examined in stratified groups, where a leader established inequitable pay-rates, and subordinates could coalesce and destroy a portion of the leader's outcomes. The results showed that status differences (as opposed to status similarity) undermined the sense of common interests between subordinates and reduced the severity of coalitional action against the leader. Face-to-face negotiations engendered a more cautious approach to coalition negotiations and also reduced the severity of insurgent action. The results suggest that status differences pose an "organizational problem" for subordinates attempting to mobilize action against a leader

Action (physics · Economics · Face (sociological concept · Negotiation · Political science · Similarity (geometry · Sociology · Computer Science · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology