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Unequal power in relationships decreases trust because it signals a conflict of interest. This effect is specifically tied to relative power, not personal feelings of power, and can be altered by intergroup competition.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Relationship Science
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Trust is crucial for relationships, yet the link between power dynamics and trust is unclear.
  • Existing research lacks a systematic analysis of how relative power distribution within dyads affects trust.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of relative power distribution on interpersonal trust.
  • To test the hypothesis that unequal power dyads experience less trust due to heightened conflict of interest perceptions.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted eight main studies and 16 supplemental studies (N=10,531), including preregistered designs.
  • Employed mediation and moderation analyses to examine the underlying mechanisms.
  • Differentiated between relative power (interpersonal) and felt power (intrapersonal).

Main Results:

  • Relative power, not felt power, significantly impacts interpersonal trust.
  • Unequal power dyads exhibited lower trust compared to equal power dyads.
  • Perceived conflict of interest mediated the relationship between relative power and trust.
  • Intergroup competition attenuated the effect of relative power on trust.

Conclusions:

  • Relative power dynamics significantly shape interpersonal trust, primarily through perceived conflicts of interest.
  • Both high- and low-power individuals may experience similar trust deficits in unequal power relationships.
  • Contextual factors, such as intergroup competition, can moderate the influence of power on trust.