When dispositional and role power fit: implications for self-expression and self-other congruence

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009 Mar;96(3):710-727. doi: 10.1037/a0014526.

Abstract

Integrating and extending the literatures on social power and person-environment fit, 4 studies tested the hypothesis that when people's dispositional beliefs about their capacity to influence others fit their assigned role power, they are more likely to engage in self-expression-that is, behave in line with their states and traits-thereby increasing their likelihood of being perceived by others in a manner congruent with their own self-judgments (i.e., self-other congruence). In Studies 1-3, dispositionally high- and low-power participants were randomly assigned to play a high- or low-power role in an interaction with a confederate. When participants' dispositional and role power fit (vs. conflicted), they reported greater self-expression (Study 1). Furthermore, under dispositional-role power fit conditions, the confederate's ratings of participants' emotional experiences (Study 2) and personality traits (Study 3) were more congruent with participants' self-reported emotions and traits. Study 4's results replicated Study 3's results using an implicit manipulation of power and outside observers' (rather than a confederate's) ratings of participants. Implications for research on power and person perception are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Ego*
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Personality / physiology
  • Power, Psychological*
  • Self Concept*
  • Self Disclosure
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Perception*
  • Students
  • Surveys and Questionnaires