The power of reputations: The role of third party information in the admission of new group members.

Abstract

Two experiments investigated whether groups use reputational information to recruit new members. The authors manipulated the candidate's reported self-sacrifices to enter the group and the source of this information. The authors found that third party information was more influential in group admission decisions than information from the candidates themselves, suggesting the power of reputations. Furthermore, group admission rates were also influenced by opportunities to socialize new group members. These results are discussed in light of their contribution to research on reputations and group dynamics.