What happens to status when new member joins a group?

(Few questions parked for future delving)

Consider a new member joining an existing group -
In a such a scenario,how is the new member’s status and hence his/her position within existing hierarchy consensually arrived at? Do high-status group members determine the new member’s status, which is unquestioned by low-status group members? Could the new member’s status alter the very basis (or bases) of existing status hierarchy? If so, when is it likely to occur?

It seems that the new member’s status rank could be one of the following –

• Rank 1, 2, 3 or 4 (where he/she joins others);
• A rank higher (i.e. 5);
• A rank lower (i.e. 0); or
• A rank that is intermediate (say 2.5)
• How do group processes change in each of the above cases? Is conflict more likely in one scenario over others?