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Lacking power impairs executive functions.

Pamela K Smith1, Nils B Jostmann, Adam D Galinsky

  • 1Department of Social Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. p.smith@psych.ru.nl

Psychological Science
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lacking power impairs executive functioning, leading to difficulties in complex tasks like updating, inhibiting, and planning. This cognitive impairment in powerless individuals stems from goal neglect, impacting performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Power dynamics significantly influence individual cognition and behavior.
  • Existing research indicates the powerless struggle to differentiate goal-relevant from irrelevant information.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of powerlessness on executive functioning.
  • To test the hypothesis that reduced power leads to cognitive decrements in complex tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Four experiments were conducted to assess executive functions under varying power conditions.
  • Tasks included updating working memory, inhibitory control, and planning abilities.

Main Results:

  • Low power significantly impaired performance on executive-function tasks across three experiments.
  • The powerless demonstrated reduced effectiveness in updating, inhibiting, and planning.
  • A fourth experiment confirmed that goal neglect drives these executive-function impairments.

Conclusions:

  • Powerlessness negatively affects executive functions, particularly goal maintenance.
  • Cognitive alterations due to powerlessness may contribute to social hierarchy stability.
  • Empowering employees could mitigate organizational errors.