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Cardiovascular functioning, personality, and the social world: the domain of hierarchical power

Tamara L Newton1

  • 1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, 317 Life Sciences, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. tlnewton@louisville.edu

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|August 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Social dominance is linked to worse cardiovascular disease and stress responses, while submissiveness may offer protection. These effects vary by gender and social context, impacting cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Social Hierarchy

Background:

  • Social dominance and submissiveness are key aspects of hierarchical power.
  • Cardiovascular functioning encompasses disease status and acute stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical research on the links between social dominance/submissiveness and cardiovascular health.
  • To examine associations with cardiovascular disease and reactivity to acute stressors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.
  • Analysis of research on cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and reactivity.
  • Examination of gender-specific patterns in social dominance and cardiovascular functioning.

Main Results:

  • Dominance is positively associated with cardiovascular disease severity, incidence, and progression.
  • Trait submissiveness may be protective against adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
  • Dominance correlates with cardiovascular reactivity and recovery from stressors, especially social challenges.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular health is influenced by social hierarchical position (dominance/submissiveness).
  • Gender and social context significantly moderate the relationship between social hierarchy and cardiovascular functioning.
  • Further research is needed on social dominance, gender, and cardiovascular health.

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