Heider's Theory of Balance: Internal Distinctions and Populational Generality

Heider's theory of balance was examined in order to determine whether the differ- entiations of entities and of relations made in this theory are necessary, and whether preference for the balanced state (PB) is general over different classes of subjects. 207 Seven different groups of Ss were used: male and female students; TB patients; mental hospital attendants; newly admitted mental patients who (a) stayed a short time, (b) a long time; and mental patients about to be discharged. A general prefer- ence for the balanced state (PB) was evident in all groups. PB was more marked under hypothetical (fictitious) conditions than under actual (real) conditions. The differentiation into types of entities and types of relations made by Heider's theory was found to be necessary be'ause situations in which both types of entities or both types of relations were present resulted in a lesser PB than situations where only one type of entity or one type of relation occurred. PB was found to be more closely related to the complexity of a given situation, i.e. to the number of different entities and relations present, than to the specific type of entity or relation present. Male and female students showed the strongest PB, the TB patients showed the least PB of the normal groups, mental patients about to be discharged did not differ significantly from normal persons, but newly admitted patients who eventu- ally stayed only a short time showed less PB, and those who stayed a longer time showed the least PB. With self-attitude ignored, short-stay patients showed the same PB as normals, but long-stay patients still showed a lesser PB. Institutionaliza- tion was thought to have some effect on PB, diminishing it. On the basis of the data obtained, the role of self-attitude in the definition of a balanced state was questioned. We have suggested that this problem be further investigated. © 1967, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Gerda G. Fillenbaum Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...