Social systems are organized so that some groups are at the top of the hierarchy and others are at the bottom. Psychosocial approaches to intergroup relations have typically operationalized status differences as pairs of social categories (i.e., high‐ vs. low‐status groups). This paper discusses the role of intermediate‐status groups and how the introduction of a third element in the hierarchy permits the consideration of more dynamic and complex intergroup relations. Starting from social identity theory, a theory of triadic social stratification is presented and four hypotheses are advanced. The key point is that intermediate‐status groups supply members with a positive social identity through downward social comparisons with the lower‐status group and hence intermediate‐status group members are motivated to maintain their social position. Further hypotheses concern the fact that intermediate‐status group members may act in a reactionary way especially when social stratification is unstable and members experience fear of losing their relative advantages. Contrariwise, intermediate‐status group members would collectively challenge the status quo only when their relative social advantage is not in question. I consider existing work that supports these hypotheses and discuss how triadic social stratification theory may help to explain some intergroup dynamics such as the reluctance of dominated groups to collectively act in order to change the social stratification and the formation of alliances between groups for social change or hierarchy maintenance.

中文翻译：

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考虑群体间等级体系中的中间状态群体：三元社会分层理论

社会系统的组织方式使某些组位于层次结构的顶部，而其他组则位于底部。群体间关系的社会心理方法通常将地位差异作为社会类别对（即高地位群体与低地位群体）进行操作。本文讨论了中间状态组的作用，以及在层次结构中引入第三个元素如何允许考虑更动态和复杂的组间关系。从社会认同理论出发，提出了三元社会分层理论，并提出了四个假说。关键是中间地位群体通过与低地位群体的向下社会比较为成员提供了积极的社会认同感，因此，中间地位群体的成员被激励保持其社会地位。进一步的假设涉及这样一个事实，即中间状态的群体成员可能以反动的方式行事，特别是在社会分层不稳定且成员感到失去相对优势的恐惧中。相反，只有在不考虑其相对社会利益的情况下，中级身份的成员才会集体挑战现状。我考虑了支持这些假设的现有工作，并讨论了三合会的社会分层理论如何帮助解释某些群体间动态，例如不愿为控制社会分层而改变主导地位的群体采取集体行动以及为了社会变革而形成群体之间的联盟。层次结构维护。