The Dynamics of Multicultural Groups

Abstract

Many studies of the power-and-prestige rank ordering in groups that are heterogeneous racially, ethnically, or culturally may have inadvertently confounded their results by sampling across socioeconomic class lines. This study was designed to eliminate that confound and to determine which of three theories (expectation states, social role, tokenism) could most accurately accountfor the power-and-prestige rank ordering in heterogeneous groups of Caucasian and Chinese males. In all groups, a Caucasian became the leader, even if he was the token, whereas Chinese group members participated less and had less influence than their Caucasian counterparts. These results are most accurately explained by revising tokenism theory to include the status characteristics conceptsfrom expectation states theory. Anotherfinding was that the person who participated the most was always judged to be the leader. This finding has practical implications: Managers might promote talkative people ahead of more qualified, but less talkative, individuals.