Twenty-five groups, each consisting of one superior and three subordinates, participated in a problem-solving exercise to test the hypotheses that subordinates who are exposed to external conflict, in conjunction with their immediate superior, will perceive their immediate superior as more credible and more homophilous than those who are not exposed to external conflict. The groups were composed of military men who normally worked together in prescribed roles. Two thirds of the groups were exposed to the "external conflict" treatment while the remaining one third served as control groups and were exposed to the "no external conflict" treatment. A posttest measure for credibility and homophily was administered to the subordinates; no superiors completed the measure. Just prior to the administration of the posttest, a brief questionnaire was given to all subordinates to determine whether or not they perceived conflict while participating in the exercise. The results did not provide clear support for the hypotheses. No significant differences in the credibility and homophily of superiors as perceived by subordinates were found between the experimental and the control groups. (FL)