Affective Reactivity and Its Role in Predicting Position in Small Group Networks

The tendency to experience positive and negative emotions can influence the relationships people form within small groups. The current study examined how affective reactivity predicts one’s sociometric centrality in small groups. We collected surveys from 267 members of 16 student clubs, including peer nominations of other club members regarding affiliation and status. Positive affective reactivity predicted centrality for affiliation (but not status) networks. In contrast, negative affective reactivity predicted centrality for status (but not affiliation) networks. The present findings demonstrate the importance of considering individuals’ affect to explain how people come to position themselves within small groups.