The role of referent and expert power in mutual help

This study explored the roles of referent power (i.e., influence based on s ense of identification) and expert power (i.e., influence based on knowledg e and expertise) in Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), a mutual-help group for persons experiencing a schizophrenia-related illness. The study describes S A participants' experience of referent and expert power with SA members, SA leaders, and with mental health professionals. It also examines whether or not referent and expert power ascribed to fellow SA participants predicts the perceived helpfulness of the group. One hundred fifty-six SA participan ts were surveyed Participants reported experiencing higher levels of refere nt power with fellow SA members and leaders than with mental health profess ionals. They reported higher levels of expert power for mental health profe ssionals and SA leaders than for SA members. The respondents' ratings of th eir SA group's helpfulness was significantly correlated with ratings of ref erent and expert power. Although expert power was the best independent pred ictor of helpfulness, a significant interaction between referent and expert power indicated that when members reported high referent power, expert pow er was not related to helpfulness. These results are interpreted to suggest that there are multiple forms of social influence at work in mutual help.