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Rebels with a cause? How norm violations shape dominance, prestige, and influence granting
Gerben A van Kleef1, Florian Wanders1, Annelies E M van Vianen1
1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|November 21, 2023
Summary
Norm violators gain influence by appearing dominant and prestigious, especially when defying broader community rules while adhering to local group norms. This challenges previous understandings of social influence and norm adherence.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Societal order relies on norms, yet the social consequences of norm violations, particularly regarding influence, are poorly understood.
- Existing research presents conflicting findings on whether norm violators gain or lose influence within groups.
- This study investigates the nuanced relationship between norm violation, perceptions of dominance and prestige, and subsequent influence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how violating different types of norms (local vs. global) affects perceptions of dominance and prestige.
- To determine how these perceptions, in turn, influence voluntary influence granting and leadership emergence.
- To understand the conditions under which norm violators gain or lose social influence.
Main Methods:
- Correlational and causal studies (Studies 1 & 2) established links between norm violation, dominance, and prestige.
- Experimental and observational studies (Studies 3-5) examined how violating local versus global norms impacts leadership endorsement and task assignment.
- Perceptions of dominance and prestige were measured as mediators of influence.
Main Results:
- Norm violations are associated with increased perceptions of dominance, while norm adherence is linked to prestige.
- Violating global norms while adhering to local norms enhances perceived leadership, as violators are seen as both dominant and prestigious.
- Individuals perceived as 'rebels with a cause' (violating global, abiding by local norms) gain more influence, especially when norms conflict.
Conclusions:
- The impact of norm violation on influence is contingent on the type of norm violated and the resulting perceptions of dominance and prestige.
- Understanding the interplay between local and global norms is crucial for explaining leader emergence and social hierarchy development.
- Norm violators can gain significant influence when they strategically defy broader rules while maintaining local group loyalty.
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