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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Series

2018

Social power

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Low Power Individuals In Social Power Research: A Quantitative Review, Theoretical Framework, And Empirical Test, Michael Schaerer, Christilene Du Plessis, Andy J. Yap, Stefan Thau Nov 2018

Low Power Individuals In Social Power Research: A Quantitative Review, Theoretical Framework, And Empirical Test, Michael Schaerer, Christilene Du Plessis, Andy J. Yap, Stefan Thau

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

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, …


Advice Giving: A Subtle Pathway To Power, Michael Schaerer, Leigh Tost, Li Huang, Francesca Gino, Rick Larrick May 2018

Advice Giving: A Subtle Pathway To Power, Michael Schaerer, Leigh Tost, Li Huang, Francesca Gino, Rick Larrick

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We propose that interpersonal behaviors can activate feelings of power, and we examine this idea in the context of advice giving. Specifically, we show a) that advice giving is an interpersonal behavior that enhances individuals’ sense of power and b) that those who seek power are motivated to engage in advice giving. Four studies, including two experiments (n=290, n=188), an organization-based field study (n=94), and a negotiation simulation (n=124) demonstrate that giving advice enhances the advisor’s sense of power because it gives the advisor perceived influence over others’ actions. Two of our studies further demonstrate that people with a high …