DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESS OF REPUTATIONS IN NEWLY FORMED GROUPS - A SOCIAL-RELATIONS ANALYSIS

Reputation formation was inferred from significant target variance in previously unacquainted group members' ratings of one another on dimen sions of affiliation and control, indicating a consensus within the gr oups regarding each member's standing on these dimensions. These reput ations were relatively stable over the four weekly meetings of the gro ups. Group members were able to predict the consensus about themselves , particularly during later sessions. Unexpected findings included dif ferences in the patterns of consensus on the affiliation and control d imensions. As predicted, consensus increased over time on the affiliat ion dimension, although this increase was not statistically significan t. On the control dimension, however, consensus was highest in the ear ly sessions and decreased significantly over time, possibly reflecting the refinement of status hierarchies in the developing groups.