14. "Effects of Status Upon Group Risk Taking"

ABSTRACT

A decision model of the Wallach and Kogan choice dilemma question is defined and used to identify a model relating the impact of status differentials upon group risk taking. The model was tested on groups of mature, middle management level, U.S. Government employees working at the same installation. One set of groups consisted of one high status conservative and two lower status nonconservatives. Another set of groups consisted of one low status conservative and two higher status nonconservatives. A third set of groups was composed of members at about the same level of status and conservatism. The high status conservative and the low status conservative shifted in a risky fashion and there was a significant overt conservative shift on the postdiscussion questionnaire. The low status risky subjects shifted conservatively with a risky overt shift on the postdiscussion questionnaire. The high status risky members evidenced a risky shift with no overt conservative shift. The low status differential groups all tended to shift in a risky fashion with no subsequent conservative overt shift. The results are not consistent with either the Brown value of risk hypothesis or the Wallach, Kogan, and Bem diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.