Leaders and Subgroups: One of Us or One of them?

Abstract

In two experiments we examined responses to nomination of a leader from within a super ordinate group that comprised subgroups. In Experiment 1, the leader was aligned with the participant's subgroup (in group) or the other subgroup (out group), or the leader was non-aligned, belonging to both or neither subgroup. Results indicated that nomination of a leader made subgroup identity salient relative to a no leader control. Respondents expected aligned leaders, especially out group leaders, to favor their own subgroup and those with an out group leader were more biased themselves. In Experiment 2, members evaluated in group and out group leaders in contexts that emphasized intergroup competition (at the level of the super ordinate group) or intergroup competition (between the subgroups). Members were more satisfied with the leader in the inter group context, although context did not attenuate differences in evaluations of in group and out group leaders. Implications for leadership in groups and organizations are discussed.