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When modesty fails: The social impact of group‐effacing attributions following success or failure
Author(s) -
Bond Michael H.,
Chiu ChiKwan,
Wan KwokChoi
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2420140308
Subject(s) - attribution , psychology , social psychology , group (periodic table) , categorization , preference , task (project management) , philosophy , chemistry , management , organic chemistry , epistemology , economics , microeconomics
This study explored how group members perceived a fellow group member who made either group‐serving or group‐effacing attributions following success or failure. Forty male undergraduates from the Chinese University co‐operated in pairs with a confederate on a demanding group task. After learning that their group's performance had exceeded or failed to meet a standard, the subjects heard their confederate‐partner make group‐effacing or group‐serving attributions. As predicted, subjects evaluated the group‐serving partners more highly (p < 0.05). Preference for group‐enhancing members was discussed as a pancultural response arising from the interdependence of group members. Given the process of social categorization, group members rise or fall together and are therefore socialized to support their group.