| The fundamental proposition of this thesis is that the patterns of beliefs held by corporate leaders about their social responsibilities are dependent upon the social distance between these leaders in organizational status hierarchies and interorganizational networks. Drawing on social network analysis, a structural theory of perceptual patterning is developed and tested in a regional network of corporate elites.;The major independent variable, social distance, is operationalized using the regional network of interlocking directorates. The effects of structural positions and social relations are tested using a network autoregression model. It is found that while in some cases hypotheses of cognitive and structural similarity are statistically supported, in other cases, significant results opposite those predicted are found. A congruence-reactance theory is offered to explain these contrary findings.;Existing macro level structural theory in the business and society field is critiqued, related literature on elites reviewed, and the relevant interorganizational structure of the regional setting described in detail. The dependent variable, pattern of beliefs about managerial social responsibility is measured via a specially developed q-sort instrument. The results of a regional survey of senior level of managers and directors using this instrument are factor analyzed and five q-factors representing social responsibility belief orientations are identified. |
