Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate experimentally the effect of leadership behavior in a simulated panic situation on escaping behavior. The percentage of successful escaping, the degree of jam, and the occurrence of the aggressive and concessive response were examined. Sujects of 132 university students were divided into groups of six members of the same sex. One of the six members was elected leader of the group. The leader could freely speak and give directions to the other five members of the group. The (leader) “non-segregated” situation and the “segregated” situation were established as the two experimental conditions. In the non-segregated situation, the leader was in the same room and could directly observe the disposition structure of the group members. In the segregated situation, the leader was in another room and could hardly get any clues to the disposition structure of the members.
The results obtained are as follows.
1. The ratio of successful escape was higher in the non-segregated situation than in the segregated situation, with the control group with no leader being the lowest. The degree of jam, on the other hand, was the lowest in the nonsegregated situation and the highest in the control group.
2. Where the leader gave concrete and powerful statements and directions-where the leader could definitely indicate the refugees (IND), order them (ORD), support their escape (SUP), and facilitate it (FAC), the ratio of successful escape proved to be higher. Where the leader mumbled (MUM) or forced the members to concede to him or her (CON), the ratio was lower.
