Leader Group Prototypicality: A Replication of Average Member Versus Ideal-Type Operationalization Effects

Abstract

Core to the social identity theory of leadership is leader group prototypicality (LGP), the perception of the leader as embodying shared collective (e.g., team, organization) identity. Steffens, Munt, van Knippenberg, Platow, and Haslam’s meta-analysis showed that LGP operationalized as embodying the ideal-type of the group (ideal-type prototypicality, ITP) is more strongly related to indicators of leadership effectiveness than LGP operationalized as embodying the average group member (average member prototypicality, AMP). However, to support these conclusions Steffens et al. could rely only on between-study comparisons based on coding of LGP operationalizations. It is therefore possible that AMP versus ITP operationalizations covaried with other study differences. To address this issue, we conducted two replication tests relying on within-study comparisons. A scenario experiment and a survey focused on the relationship of both operationalizations of LGP with what in the social identity theory of leadership is a proximal outcome of LGP: trust in the leader. Replicating Steffens et al.'s finding, both studies showed that LGP is more strongly related to trust when it is operationalized as ITP rather than AMP.