different sentiment relation, thus the relation is imbalance (Taylor, 1967). In three
individual relations or triad, balance state between the three can be found if the
algebraic multiplication of signs in the triad relation has the value of positive.
It is believed that the social (sentiment) relations tend to be its balance state. A
social group consisted of more than two or three agents have balance state(s), too. This is
the main focus of the paper, to join dyad and triad sentiment relation in balance theory
based on Heider’s balance theory (1946, 1958) and group balance as a whole which is
based on structure theorem of Cartwright and Harary (1956). In this perspective, the
social balance sate is emerged from the sentiment relations among agents. This is similar
to the macro-micro linkage: sentiment relations among agents (localized as triad and
dyad) emerges the collective balance of the group (Situngkir, 2003). In other words, the
task is about to investigate the micro foundation (at dyadic/triadic level) from the global
patterns (collective balance) (Macy and Miller, 2001).
2. Heider’s Balance Theory
The Heider’s balance theory is one of cognitive consistency theory which
dominated social psychology in 1960’s (Greenwald et al, 2002). Furthermore, the balance
theory is laid on people's "naive theory of action" - the conceptual framework by which
people interpret, explain, and predict others' behavior. In this framework, intentional
concepts (e.g., beliefs, desires, trying, purpose) played a central role. This is the
“surface” area of the psychology and the “deep” area for sociology: the common sensical
of an individual’s guiding behavior towards others; how an individual perceives and
analyze her conditions, other people, and their relations (Goldman, 1993).
One’s behavioral change from liking to disliking is based on one of Heider’s
propositions stating that an individual tends to choose balance state in her interpersonal
relation. This is caused by pressure or tension that resulting from the imbalance state in
her interpersonal relations, which enforces someone to change her sentiment relation
toward balance formation or to lesser force/tension (Zajonc, 1960, Taylor, 1967,
Hummon and Doreian , 2003).
In the relation of three people or triad (Figure 1), balance state occurs when all
sign multiplication of its sentiment relation charges positive. In this way, balance state
will occur when there are sentiment relations with signs all positive (+ x + x + = +), or
two negatives and one positive (- x - x + = +). This model is popular as pox model where
p is focal individual, o is object, issue or a person, and x is object or other individual.
Sentiment relation p and x is determined by an attitude of p and x toward o. If the
multiplication of signs of these relations is positive, then the balance state is achieved
(Heider, 1946). _
+/
+/
+/
Figure 1
Heider’s pox model