When modesty fails: The social impact of group‐effacing attributions following success or failure

Abstract

Abstract This study explored how group members perceived a fellow group member who made either group‐serving or group‐effacing attributions following success or failure. Forty male undergraduates from the Chinese University co‐operated in pairs with a confederate on a demanding group task. After learning that their group's performance had exceeded or failed to meet a standard, the subjects heard their confederate‐partner make group‐effacing or group‐serving attributions. As predicted, subjects evaluated the group‐serving partners more highly (p < 0.05). Preference for group‐enhancing members was discussed as a pancultural response arising from the interdependence of group members. Given the process of social categorization, group members rise or fall together and are therefore socialized to support their group.