Proportionate group size and rejection of the deviate: A meta-analytic integration

A group member voicing an opinion that differs from the modal group opinion may be considered a deviate and rejected by the group. We conducted a meta-analytic integration of 23 studies to examine the influence of proportionate group size on rejection of the deviate. The results suggest a strong tendency for rejection of the deviate to increase as the proportionate size of the deviate's subgroup decreases. These effects are moderated by the deviate's direction of movement (that is, whether the deviate consistently maintains one opinion, or changes opinions). Deviates consistently maintaining an opinion different from the modal group opinion were rejected more as the proportionate size of their subgroup decreased (r = -.23). In contrast, deviates changing opinion by sliding toward the modal group opinion were rejected less as the proportionate size of their subgroup decreased (r = .42).