Influence within groups accrues to members seen as prototypical of the group’s position.

Evidence

H.22. That the direction of effective influence within the group (who successfully influences whom) is a function of the relative persuasiveness of the members, which is based on the degree to which their response (their arguments, position, attributes, experience, role, etc.) is perceived as prototypical of the initial distribution of responses of the group as a whole, i.e., the degree of relative consensual support for a member. … In short, those in a position to direct the group are those who are seen to be most prototypical of the group position in a given context (which itself is defined as the position which most clearly differentiates between the ingroup and the outgroup and therefore varies as a function of which outgroup is the subject of comparison; Turner & Haslam, 2001). — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 45

Categorization

• XREF: Directly serves the reading purpose — leaders’ ability to frame threats as description rests on their perceived prototypicality, and the position itself shifts with whichever outgroup is being compared. Connects to Haslam/Reicher social identity leadership work. — connects to: Groups are judged by fit with a superordinate prototype that favors the majority — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1425; Followers are swayed most by leaders who embody the group’s valued traits. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1762

Broader Connections

• Followers are swayed most by leaders who embody the group’s valued traits. #exemplifies (0.88) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1762
• Groups are judged by fit with a superordinate prototype that favors the majority #expands (0.82) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1425