Social Influence Network Theory
A Sociological Examination of Small Group Dynamics

This book uses social influence network theory to examine research on group dynamics concerned with changes of group members' positions on an issue.

Noah E. Friedkin (Author), Eugene C. Johnsen (Author)

9781107002463, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 April 2011

390 pages, 24 b/w illus. 42 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.74 kg

“Summarizing their thoughts over many years, Noah Friedkin and Eugene Johnsen have written a book that will influence the way people think about influence in small groups for years to come.” – Peter Bearman, Columbia University

Social influence network theory presents a mathematical formalization of the social process of attitude changes that unfolds in a social network of interpersonal influences. This book brings the theory to bear on lines of research in the domain of small group dynamics concerned with changes of group members' positions on an issue, including the formation of consensus and of settled disagreement, via endogenous interpersonal influences, in which group members are responding to the displayed positions of the members of the group. Social influence network theory advances a dynamic social cognition mechanism, in which individuals are weighing and combining their own and others' positions on an issue in the revision of their own positions. The influence network construct of the theory is the social structure of the endogenous interpersonal influences that are involved in this mechanism. With this theory, the authors seek to lay the foundation for a better formal integration of classical and current lines of work on small groups in psychological and sociological social psychology.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Group dynamics: structural social psychology
2. Formalization: attitude change in influence networks
3. Operationalization: constructs and measures
4. Assessing the model
Part II. Influence Network Perspective on Small Groups: 5. Consensus formation and efficiency
6. The smallest group
7. Social comparison theory
8. Minority and majority factions
9. Choice shift and group polarization
Part III. Linkages with Other Formal Theories: 10. Models of group decision making
11. Expectation states and affect control
12. Individuals in groups
Epilogue
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Sociology [JHB]