Status as a determinant of conformity to and deviation from the group norm

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses that a man of high status would conform to the group norm more strictly than a man of low status when the norm of group was percieved to facilitate the accomplishment of group tasks, and that a man of high status, on the other hand, would deviate more extremely from the group norm than a man of low status when the norm was percieved to be detrimental to the accomplishment of group tasks. Results confirmed these hypotheses and suggested that the conforming/deviant behavior needs to be considered in terms of the conflict involved in group processes between adaptation to the task environment and adaptation to interpersonal problems. © 1980, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.