"The hypothesis that self-evaluative needs concerning opinions are an important determinant of group formation was tested experimentally. Subjects were presented with a problem and asked to state their opinions. Adequacy of opinion evaluation was varied at four levels along a continuum by telling subjects in different conditions the opinions of various groups of other people. Affiliation tendencies were measured by assessing the level of interest the subjects had in joining discussion groups to talk about the opinion in need of evaluation. Results gave strong support to the hypothesis. Affiliation tendencies varied according to the strength of evaluative needs." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4GE78R. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)