Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
10-2014
Abstract
We examine the effect of friendship in triads on retaliatory responses to unfair outcomes that originate from a group member. Drawing on Simmel's classic discussion of relationships in social triads versus dyads, we hypothesized that the effect of unfairness on retaliation between friends is stronger when the third party in the triad is a mutual friend, rather than a stranger. We also draw on social categorization theory to hypothesize that the effect of unfairness on retaliation between strangers is stronger when the third party is a friend of that stranger than when the triad consists of all strangers. Hypotheses were tested in an experiment where participants negotiated with one another in a three-person exchange network. The results supported our hypothesis that between friends, the increase in retaliation was stronger following an unfair deal when third parties were mutual friends, rather than strangers.
Keywords
social structure, counterproductive behaviors, negotiation, friendship, retaliation
Discipline
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Research Areas
Strategy and Organisation
Publication
Small Group Research
Volume
45
Issue
5
First Page
471
Last Page
505
ISSN
1046-4964
Identifier
10.1177/1046496414537689
Publisher
SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Citation
GOH, Kenneth T.; KRACKHARDT, David; WEINGART, Laurie R.; and KOH, Tat Koon.
The role of Simmelian friendship ties on retaliation within triads. (2014). Small Group Research. 45, (5), 471-505.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5309
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496414537689