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How Your Power Affects My Impression of You
Diana Orghian1,2, Filipa de Almeida2, Sofia Jacinto3
11 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|August 22, 2018
Summary
People infer both positive and negative traits for powerless individuals. However, for powerful actors, only positive traits are inferred, a phenomenon termed the benevolence bias, impacting social perception.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Understanding how social power influences interpersonal judgments is crucial.
- Previous research has explored power dynamics, but the specific impact on trait inference requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of perceived power on trait inference from behavior.
- To identify and name the 'benevolence bias' where only positive traits are inferred for powerful individuals.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using behavioral descriptions to assess trait inferences.
- Participants' inferences were measured using explicit and implicit measures.
- Power was manipulated through specific scenarios and a generic power manipulation.
Main Results:
- Participants inferred both positive and negative traits for powerless actors.
- For powerful and control actors, only positive traits were inferred, demonstrating the benevolence bias.
- The benevolence bias was replicated, shown to be independent of specific traits, and detectable via implicit measures.
Conclusions:
- Perceived power significantly shapes how individuals' traits are inferred from their behavior.
- The benevolence bias suggests a tendency to view powerful individuals more favorably, overlooking negative attributes.
- Findings have implications for understanding social judgment, stereotyping, and intergroup relations.
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