Personal preference and the attribution of influence in small groups.

A relationship between interpersonal attraction and interpersonal influence has been dearly demonstrated in a number of studies. Members of small groups appear to prefer others who exert influence over them. The present study is also concerned with the relationship of affect to influence between members of small groups. It differs from the earlier investigations, however, in two respects. First, this work focuses on perceived influence only, whereas the other studies also dealt with actual influence as evidenced by changed behavior. Second, and more important, it goes beyond most of the earlier studies by considering effects of the perception of one's own influence over others. The relationship observed between feeling influenced and liking does not, of course, exclude the possibility that one feels influential more toward liked than toward disliked. This article proposes to examine individual differences in influence-preference relationships. Four types of subjects will be distinguished. Type I, the individual who prefers those with whom he has a relationship of mutual influence, Type II, the individual who prefers those he feels he influences, Type III, the individual who prefers those who influence him, and, Type IV, the individual whose preferences relate to either form of influence only to a moderate or negligible extent. With the assumption that individuals belonging to the four types described will vary in their perception of the personal qualities of other group members, the article compares the four types in terms of the traits they attribute to their most and least liked associates.