Legitimacy crisis? Behavioral approach and inhibition when power differences are left unexplained

Pamela K. Smith, John T. Jost, Ranjini Vijay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Possessing social power leads to approach-related affect and behavior, whereas lacking power leads to inhibition (Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, Psychol Rev 110:265-284, 2003). However, such effects should be moderated by whether an explanation is given for these power differences. Participants were assigned to a low-power or high-power role and then interacted with a confederate in the opposite role. Participants were told these role assignments were made for legitimate (expertise) or illegitimate (nepotism) reasons, or were given no explanation. High-power participants showed more approach-related affect and behavior and reported less dissonance than low-power participants, but many of these effects were moderated by the presence versus absence of an explanation. When no explanation for power differences was provided, high-power participants exhibited more approach-related behavior than low-power participants but also felt more guilt and unease. Implications for system justification theory and the literature on social power are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)358-376
Number of pages19
JournalSocial Justice Research
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008

Keywords

  • Approach
  • Explanations
  • Inhibition
  • Legitimacy
  • Social power
  • System justification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anthropology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Law

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