Group Formation In Competitive Networks

Based on network exchange theory and relational cohesion theory,the thesis explores the mechanism of group formation by experimental methods.The experimental results show that agreement frequency affects positive emotion and predictability,positive emotion and predictability affect perceived cohesion significantly,the group formation mechanism of relational cohesion theory is verified in “renqing-absent” networks.For strong power networks,the exchange frequency,positive emotions,predictability and perceived cohesion are lowest,a relatively loose group is formed;for equal or weak power networks,there are no significant difference among these variables,the groups formed for them are of equal cohesion.The relational cohesion theory doesn't have effects on group formation after introducing Chinese local variable “renqing”,“favor(renqing)giving” becomes an important factor to affect perceived cohesion in this situation.The more “favor(renqing)” gives,the more “favor(renqing)” returns,the higher the cohesion of the group.In “renqing-present”networks,“favor(renqing)giving” moderates the relationship between network competitiveness and cohesion.In contrast with “renqing-absent” networks,the cohesion of the strong power network is stronger,the cohesion of the equal power network is lower,and the weak power network has no significant difference.Moreover,the weak power network is“split”,the strong power network shows the tendency of “equilibrium”,but the actors in equal power networks are unwilling to give their “favor(renqing)”.From the chatting records of the experiment,we can know that the correlation among competitive structure,renqing and group formation.The research has both important theoretical significance and concerns for Chinese society.