The status of individuals and groups refers to their social rank defined in terms of prestige or esteem. [Page 840]Because status brings respect and deference, it is also closely associated with power. It is surely one of the most fundamental parameters governing the lives of humans and other social animals. It is also something that can be negotiated, constructed, challenged, and perpetuated in the process of social interaction. It is therefore of interest to social psychologists as both an independent variable (i.e., a cause) and a dependent variable (i.e., an effect). Indeed many research studies have examined status from both these perspectives, revealing much about the sources, the consequences, and the unfolding dynamics of status within and between groups.