1
|
Bartholomaeus J, Burns N, Strelan P. The Empowering Function of the Belief in a Just World for the Self: Trait-Level and Experimental Tests of Its Association With Positive and Negative Affect. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2023; 49:510-526. [PMID: 35094591 DOI: 10.1177/01461672211072823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Belief in a just world for the self (BJW-self) is a resource that promotes adaptive functioning. We theorize that BJW-self has such an effect because it is empowering. This article reports on four studies (N = 967) testing whether BJW-self encourages more positive and less negative affect indirectly through empowerment. There was support for this hypothesis at a trait level across all studies, and specifically in Study 1. Experimental evidence, however, was more complex. Study 2 demonstrated the causal effect of the mediator, empowerment, on affect. Study 3 demonstrated that affirming BJW-self enhanced empowerment with an associated increase in positive affect and reduced negative affect. Study 4 showed that enhancing empowerment did not significantly influence the effect of affirmed BJW-self on affect, but blocking empowerment did, although this finding is qualified by no significant effect on empowerment. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings, and the challenges of experimentally manipulating BJW-self.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas Burns
- School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Peter Strelan
- School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lai L. The effects of social vs. personal power on universal dimensions of social perception. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1050287. [PMID: 36687895 PMCID: PMC9845706 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1050287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study expands previous research on the effects of power on stereotyping by investigating the impact of two types of power (social power and personal power) on two universal dimensions of social perception; warmth and competence. Results from an experiment (N = 377) in which participants were randomly assigned to provide their impression of either (1) poor people or (2) rich people, suggest that the two types of power produce different effects on perceptions of warmth and competence. Personal power increased stereotype consistent perceptions of warmth whereas social power increased stereotype consistent perceptions of competence as well as agency, which was identified as a separate dimension. The pattern of results is discussed in view of previous work on power effects and stereotyping, and potential explanations and suggestions for future research are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Lai
- Department of Leadership and Organizational Studies, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Heller S, Ullrich J, Mast MS. Power at work: Linking objective power to psychological power. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Heller
- Institute of Communication and Marketing IKM Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne Switzerland
| | - Johannes Ullrich
- Department of Psychology University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Marianne S. Mast
- Department of Organizational Behavior, Faculty of Business and Economics University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Abstract. “The powerful are immoral”! Across four preregistered studies (total N = 2,744), we explored the role of perceived autonomy (control over own resources) and perceived influence (control over others’ resources) for this belief. In Study 1, perceived autonomy and influence mediated the effect of power on expected immorality. Likewise, directly manipulating perceived autonomy and influence led to increased expected immorality, increased perceived intentionality of a transgression, and consequently to harsher punishment recommendations (Studies 3 and 4). Interestingly, Study 2 revealed an interaction between autonomy and influence, which we however could not replicate in Study 4. Overall, our findings suggest that both autonomy and influence are associated with immorality and thus likely drive the belief that the powerful are immoral.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Wingen
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Simone Dohle
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hyun S, Ku X. How does power affect happiness and mental illness? The mediating role of proactive coping. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2020.1844515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Seungju Hyun
- Department of Psychology, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Xyle Ku
- Department of Psychology, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
|
7
|
Leach S, Weick M. When smiles (and frowns) speak words: Does power impact the correspondence between self-reported affect and facial expressions? Br J Psychol 2020; 111:683-701. [PMID: 31899554 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Self-reported experiences are often poor indicators of outward expressions. Here we examine social power as a variable that may impact the relationship between self-reported affect and facial expressions. Earlier studies addressing this issue were limited by focusing on a single facial expression (smiling) and by using different, less sensitive methods that yielded mostly null results. Sampling, for the first time, self-reported affect repeatedly in response to different negative, neutral and positive stimuli, and measuring concurrent facial muscle activation via electromyography, we found that high power (vs. baseline) increased the correspondence between self-reported positive affect and smiling. There was also an indication that high power (vs. baseline) bolstered the association between self-reported negative affect and frowning but the effect did not pass more stringent criteria for significance (p ≤ .005) and was therefore deemed inconclusive. The prediction that low power (vs. baseline) decreases the correspondence between self-reported affect and smiling and frowning facial expressions was not supported. Taken together, it would appear that (high) power can impact the relationship between self-reported affect and facial expressions, but it remains to be seen whether this effect extends beyond smiling facial expressions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Weick
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Strelan P, Van Prooijen JW, Gollwitzer M. When transgressors intend to cause harm: The empowering effects of revenge and forgiveness on victim well-being. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 59:447-469. [PMID: 31823388 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
When people are transgressed against, they are usually motivated to restore personal power that was threatened by the transgression. We argue and test the new idea that while revenge and forgiveness responses are typically seen as opposites, both may be empowering, depending on the offender's intent to harm. Across two studies, one experimental (N = 381) and one employing an autobiographical recall paradigm (N = 251), we tested a moderated mediation model. Notably, we found that revenge is empowering at high levels of intent and forgiveness is empowering regardless of intent. Importantly, we also demonstrate that empowerment provides an explanation for the process by which getting revenge and forgiving are each associated with improved affective outcomes for victims.
Collapse
|
9
|
Hughes H, Hockey J, Berry G. Power play: the use of space to control and signify power in the workplace. CULTURE AND ORGANIZATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14759551.2019.1601722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Hughes
- School of Education, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
| | - John Hockey
- School of Education, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
| | - Greg Berry
- Management and Organizations, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Leach S, Weick M. From grumpy to cheerful (and back): How power impacts mood in and across different contexts. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
11
|
Weick M, Vasiljevic M, Sedikides C. Taming the Lion: How Perceived Worth Buffers the Detrimental Influence of Power on Aggression and Conflict. Front Psychol 2018; 9:858. [PMID: 29962980 PMCID: PMC6010583 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Contrary to conventional wisdom, there is little empirical evidence that elevated power, by default, fuels conflict and aggression. Instead, previous studies have shown that extraneous factors that decrease powerholders' perceived worth, making powerholders feel inferior or disrespected, seem to be necessary to 'unleash' power's dark side and trigger aggression and conflict. However, this past work has largely neglected that power boosts individuals' perceptions of worth, and as such these variables are not independent. The present research sought to address this oversight, thereby providing a more nuanced account of how perceived worth stifles aggression and conflict tendencies in powerholders. Focusing on self-esteem (Study 1) and status (Study 2) as two interrelated facets of perceived worth, we report primary and secondary data indicating that perceived worth acts as buffer and counters aggression as well as more general conflict tendencies in powerholders. By providing evidence for a suppression effect, the present findings go beyond the moderations identified in prior work and demonstrate that perceptions of worth are critical to understanding the link between power on the one hand, and aggression and conflict on the other. We conclude by discussing the social regulatory function of perceived worth in hierarchical relations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Weick
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Milica Vasiljevic
- Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Constantine Sedikides
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, Psychology Department, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cislak A, Cichocka A, Wojcik AD, Frankowska N. Power Corrupts, but Control Does Not: What Stands Behind the Effects of Holding High Positions. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2018; 44:944-957. [PMID: 29484921 PMCID: PMC5971364 DOI: 10.1177/0146167218757456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
People seek high positions not to gain influence over others but to satisfy their need for personal control. Personal control tends to have positive interpersonal consequences. If this is the case, does power indeed corrupt? We argue that holding a high position is associated both with perceptions of power (influence over others) and personal control (influence over one's life). Three studies showed that these two aspects might have opposite consequences: Power over others positively predicted aggressiveness (Study 1, N = 793) and exploitativeness (Study 2, N = 445), whereas personal control predicted these outcomes negatively. In Study 3 ( N = 557), conducted among employees at various organizational positions, the effects of holding a high position on exploitativeness and aggressiveness were differentially mediated by power over others and personal control. We discuss these findings in light of contradicting evidence on the corruptive effects of power.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Cislak
- 1 University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.,2 Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|