Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test

We examine the role of low-power individuals in social power research. A multi-method literature review reveals that low-power individuals may be insufficiently understood because many studies lack necessary control conditions that allow drawing inferences about low power, effects are predominantly...

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Main Authors: SCHAERER, Michael, du PLESSIS, Christilene, YAP, Andy J., THAU, Stefan
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2018
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5903
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/6902/viewcontent/Schaerer_du_Plessis_Yap__Thau_OBHDP2018_low_power_individuals.pdf
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Institution: Singapore Management University
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spelling sg-smu-ink.lkcsb_research-69022020-06-16T07:23:28Z Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test SCHAERER, Michael du PLESSIS, Christilene YAP, Andy J. THAU, Stefan We examine the role of low-power individuals in social power research. A multi-method literature review reveals that low-power individuals may be insufficiently understood because many studies lack necessary control conditions that allow drawing inferences about low power, effects are predominantly attributed to high power, and qualitative reviews primarily focus on how high-power individuals feel, think, and behave. Challenging the assumption that low power tends to produce opposite consequences of high power, we highlight several similarities between the two states. Based on social exchange theories, we propose that unequal-power (vs. equal-power) relationships make instrumental goals, competitive attitudes, and exchange rules salient, which can cause both high- and low-power individuals to behave similarly. Two experiments suggest that although low-power individuals sometimes behave in opposite ways to high-power individuals (i.e., they take less action), at other times they behave similarly (i.e., they objectify others to the same extent). We discuss the systematic study of low-power individuals and highlight methodological implications. 2018-11-01T07:00:00Z text application/pdf https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5903 info:doi/10.1016/j.obhdp.2018.08.004 https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/6902/viewcontent/Schaerer_du_Plessis_Yap__Thau_OBHDP2018_low_power_individuals.pdf http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Social power Powerful Powerless Review Curvilinear effects Experimental design Social exchange Study design Control condition Action orientation Objectification Industrial and Organizational Psychology Organizational Behavior and Theory
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic Social power
Powerful
Powerless
Review
Curvilinear effects
Experimental design
Social exchange
Study design
Control condition
Action orientation
Objectification
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Organizational Behavior and Theory
spellingShingle Social power
Powerful
Powerless
Review
Curvilinear effects
Experimental design
Social exchange
Study design
Control condition
Action orientation
Objectification
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Organizational Behavior and Theory
SCHAERER, Michael
du PLESSIS, Christilene
YAP, Andy J.
THAU, Stefan
Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
description We examine the role of low-power individuals in social power research. A multi-method literature review reveals that low-power individuals may be insufficiently understood because many studies lack necessary control conditions that allow drawing inferences about low power, effects are predominantly attributed to high power, and qualitative reviews primarily focus on how high-power individuals feel, think, and behave. Challenging the assumption that low power tends to produce opposite consequences of high power, we highlight several similarities between the two states. Based on social exchange theories, we propose that unequal-power (vs. equal-power) relationships make instrumental goals, competitive attitudes, and exchange rules salient, which can cause both high- and low-power individuals to behave similarly. Two experiments suggest that although low-power individuals sometimes behave in opposite ways to high-power individuals (i.e., they take less action), at other times they behave similarly (i.e., they objectify others to the same extent). We discuss the systematic study of low-power individuals and highlight methodological implications.
format text
author SCHAERER, Michael
du PLESSIS, Christilene
YAP, Andy J.
THAU, Stefan
author_facet SCHAERER, Michael
du PLESSIS, Christilene
YAP, Andy J.
THAU, Stefan
author_sort SCHAERER, Michael
title Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
title_short Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
title_full Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
title_fullStr Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
title_full_unstemmed Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
title_sort low power individuals in social power research: a quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2018
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5903
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/6902/viewcontent/Schaerer_du_Plessis_Yap__Thau_OBHDP2018_low_power_individuals.pdf
_version_ 1770574336049020928