Expectations of social acceptance and compatibility as related to status discrepancy and social motives.

Abstract

Hypotheses derived from an expectancy-value conception of interpersonal choice processes were tested in a sample of college dormitory women. All 159 Ss were assessed for motives related to affiliation and achievement (TAT n Affiliation and n Achievement, self-report rejection anxiety and test anxiety), and for social status. After being falsely informed that they were of average status, random subsets of Ss either selected new roommates from among 10 status levels, or estimated their chances of acceptibility or compatibility at each level. As predicted, status discrepancy was negatively related to estimates; and Ss typically chose above their own status. Unanticipated status by motive interactions, and differences between acceptance and compatibility estimates, were interpreted in terms of approach and avoidance mechanisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)