Further Development of a Theory of Coalitions in the Triad

Abstract

A previously presented model of the triad whose members are not identical in power and in which the formation of coalitions depends predictably upon the initial distribution of power is here extended by the addition, first, of two new types to the six originally described, and, second, of three situations-continuous, episodic, and terminal-which correspond to different patterns of coalition formation in given types of triad. Evidence from a number of recent studies is discussed in relation to the model.