Sociology question

STATUS

& Expectation States

ORGANIZING

01. EXPECTATION STATES THEORY

Aims to explain how our preconceived notions about

others, based on their identities, are the basis for status hierarchies in

small groups

Why Expectation States Theory Matters

On the group level, we evaluate others’ competence & credibility based on status characteristics (socially significant characteristics, rewards, & behavioral interchange patterns), which form the basis for status hierarchies

● These trends perpetuate themselves over time, resulting in certain types of individuals having more influence & power over others

● Status hierarchies based on perceptions of class, race, gender, age, etc. may be fostered & perpetuated by what happens in small group interactions

STATUS DIFFERENCES Higher status members are more likely to be listened to, received more positively, & exert more influence

There may be backlash against those of lower status in positions of authority because their power is perceived as illegitimate

INCONSISTENT CHARACTERISTICS While expectation states

theory does not address the origins of status beliefs, the focus is instead on how these

status beliefs influence people’s attitudes,

perceptions, & behavior

EVERYDAY LIFE

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON

“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a

practiced man relies on the language of the first.”

”

02.APPLICATION & RESEARCH

Expectation states theory has been subjected to rigorous empirical evaluation, which has generated considerable evidence in support of the theory

STATUS UNEQUAL GROUPS

When peers interact, they look more while listening than while speaking. When

male ROTC officers & cadets interact, officers looked as

much while listening & speaking. Cadets looked

substantially more while listening than while

speaking

Eye Gaze

STATUS UNEQUAL GROUPS

Replicated the previous study on female dyads

differentiated by age & educational attainment

High status females looked while speaking nearly as much as while listening; low status females looked much more while listening

A

When the same high & low status females were placed in subsequent interaction with a new partner who was their equal in status, they reverted to the more usual proportions among peers

B

STATUS UNEQUAL GROUPS

One of the vocal cues most commonly studied in relation to status is the speed with which a person responds to a group task

● One study told female participants whether they were higher or lower than their partners in a task.

○ Subjects assigned high status were more likely to respond before their partners on problem-solving trials

STATUS UNEQUAL GROUPS

Another study examined loudness & speech rates of men & women in same- & mixed-sex groups

● Although there were no effects on speech rates, women spoke louder in a task-oriented discussion with women than with men

○ These results demonstrate that much nonverbal behavior between males & females in task situations reflects the status value of being male or female rather than distinct, sex-role-based behavior

STATUS EQUAL GROUPS

Subjects’ positions in the initial eye-glance hierarchy correlated positively & significantly with the participation rank they later achieved during group discussion

One study measured the eye-glance hierarchies of three-man & three-woman groups

Some researchers suggest that eye contact behaviors reflect perceived status differences

STATUS EQUAL GROUPS

One study argues that group members with a minority

opinion can influence the majority if they actively

present their point of view with consistency &

confidence

In a follow-up, researchers found that a confederate holding a minority opinion was influential when he was seen actively choosing a head seat before interaction, but not when he was assigned that seat

A

This shows that nonverbal behavior & the nature of responses, relative to other group members, leads to attributions of confidence, independence, or competence & increases the influence & status they attain in a group of peers

B

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ALL! THAT’S