Abstract
A commitment framework based on Moreland and Levine's theory of socialization in groups (Levine & Moreland, 1994; Moreland & Levine, 1982, 2000) is applied to the previously neglected problem of group exit. Specifically, an ex-member's desire to rejoin a former group is predicted from two factors: (1) the ex-member's commitment to his or her former group; and (2) the ex-member's perception of his or her former group's commitment to him or her. This framework is tested using both recollections of real-life experiences and experimentally constructed groups. Results suggest that an ex-member's desire to rejoin a former group is determined most proximally by the ex-member's commitment to the former group, but that the ex-member's commitment can be affected by perceptions of the former group's commitment. These results suggest that Moreland and Levine's framework provides a viable theory-based starting point for more extensive study of group exit.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 479-494 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Group Processes & Intergroup Relations: GPIR |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2009 |
Keywords
- commitment
- exit
- group processes