Geoff Thomas
Biographic Data
| ID | 3826903 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Geoff Thomas |
| GIVEN NAMES | Geoff |
| FAMILY NAME | Thomas |
| SIGNATURE | THOMAS G |
| AFFILIATIONS | Cardiff University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8567-8851 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 237 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 15 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1997 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Can’t get you o u t of my head
How can a complicated, ambivalent relationship with a boss be both draining and generative? This paper challenges the view that leader–member exchange (LMX) ambivalence is solely harmful. Using the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework, we examine how conflicting feelings toward a leader can be experienced as both constraining and motivating. We focus on epistemic motivation—the tendency to seek deeper understanding—as a key factor that shapes h…
When Leaders are in the Numerical Majority or Minority
Two experiments examined the effect a leader has when supported by a numerical majority or minority. In both experiments, participants read a team problem‐solving scenario where a solution was supported by either a numerical majority or minority of the team. In some conditions, the team leader also supported the same solution as the majority or minority in other conditions the leader did not. When the leader was supported by the majority, its sol…
Leader–member exchange (LMX) differentiation and work outcomes
According to leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, leaders develop different quality relationships with followers in their team (termed LMX differentiation). An important theoretical question concerns how different LMX relationships within a team affect followers' work outcomes. This paper provides a critical review of the concept of LMX differentiation. We propose that the LMX differentiation process leads to patterns of LMX relationships that ca…
Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) and Performance
This paper reports a meta‐analysis that examines the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) relationship quality and a multidimensional model of work performance (task, citizenship, and counterproductive performance). The results show a positive relationship between LMX and task performance (146 samples, ρ = .30) as well as citizenship performance (97 samples, ρ = .34), and negatively with counterproductive performance (19 samples, ρ =…
Leading groups
Although leadership is fundamentally a social psychological (and group) phenomenon, interest in the social psychology of leadership has waxed and waned over the years. The present article briefly reviews this chequered history and then discusses recent theoretical and empirical developments that extend the study of social cognition and social identity to the domain of leadership. In addition, we consider how the eight empirical articles that cons…
Social cognition in leader–follower relationships
Relationship‐based approaches to leadership (e.g., Leader–Member Exchange theory) currently represent one of the most popular approaches to understanding workplace leadership. Although the concept of “relationship” is central to these approaches, generally this has not been well articulated and is often conceptualized simply in terms of relationship quality between the leader and the follower. In contrast, research in the wider relationship scien…
Man, I feel like a woman
Two experiments were undertaken with 3 goals: (a) to determine whether manipulating the desirability of including empathy as part of one's gender-role identity motivates accurate mind-reading, (b) to ascertain whether target readability moderates the strength of this effect, and (c) to test whether these effects are mediated by the complexity of perceivers' inferential strategies. Participants viewed videotapes of 2 couples discussing relationshi…
Unraveling the role of forgiveness in family relationships
Testing the idea that the process of forgiveness is intrinsically different across diverse relationships, this study examined the role of forgiveness in different family relationships. In 2 laboratory sessions 1 year apart, 114 families (each including 2 parents and 1 child) completed a new measure of family forgiveness and many individual-level, relationship-level, and family-level variables that have been previously linked with forgiveness. Aft…
Mind-Reading Accuracy in Intimate Relationships
Using a video-review procedure, multiple perceivers carried out mind-reading tasks of multiple targets at different levels of acquaintanceship (50 dating couples, friends of the dating partners, and strangers). As predicted, the authors found that mind-reading accuracy was (a). higher as a function of increased acquaintanceship, (b). relatively unaffected by target effects, (c). influenced by individual differences in perceivers' ability, and (d)…
The Measurement of Perceived Relationship Quality Components
This research tested three models of how the relationship evaluation components of satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love are structured and cognitively represented. Participants in Study 1 rated their intimate relationships on six previously developed scales that measured each construct and on a new inventory—the Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC) Inventory. As predicted, confirmatory factor analysis revealed …
Behavior and on‐line cognition in marital interaction
This research examined the relations among various distal variables and interactive behavior and on‐line cognition in a complete longitudinal design over 1 year. Fifty‐seven married couples had problem‐solving discussions that were videotaped. Interactive behavior was coded by observers, and on‐line cognitions were assessed using a tape‐review procedure (see Fletcher & Fitness, 1990). As predicted, the association between relationship satisfactio…
Ideals, perceptions, and evaluations in early relationship development
This research examined partner and relationship perceptions and ideal standards in 100 individuals over time, from the 1st to the 12th month of their dating relationships. As expected, the results revealed that (a) individuals evaluated their relationships on both distinct evaluative components and global evaluative dimensions, (b) higher ideal-perception consistency was associated with higher perceived quality of relationships and partners, (c) …
Ideals in intimate relationships
Cognitive and Behavioral Accommodation in Close Relationships
This research examined the role of cognitive and behavioral accommodation in two studies. In study 1, participants responded to hypothetical negative behaviors from their partners. Study 2 involved the re-coding and reanalysis (using structural equation modeling) of data from a prior study in which married couples had problem-solving discussions and provided reports of their on-line thoughts and feelings. The results from the two studies were mix…
On-line empathic accuracy in marital interaction
Seventy-four married couples reviewed videotapes of their problem-solving discussions and described self and partner on-line thoughts and feelings. Scores were derived measuring empathic accuracy, assumed similarity, and shared cognitive focus. As expected, the results showed that more highly educated partners and those married for shorter time periods achieved superior empathic accuracy. In contrast, assumed similarity was significantly related …
Ideals in intimate relationships
Ideals, perceptions, and evaluations in early relationship development
This research examined partner and relationship perceptions and ideal standards in 100 individuals over time, from the 1st to the 12th month of their dating relationships. As expected, the results revealed that (a) individuals evaluated their relationships on both distinct evaluative components and global evaluative dimensions, (b) higher ideal-perception consistency was associated with higher perceived quality of relationships and partners, (c) …
On-line empathic accuracy in marital interaction
Seventy-four married couples reviewed videotapes of their problem-solving discussions and described self and partner on-line thoughts and feelings. Scores were derived measuring empathic accuracy, assumed similarity, and shared cognitive focus. As expected, the results showed that more highly educated partners and those married for shorter time periods achieved superior empathic accuracy. In contrast, assumed similarity was significantly related …
Mind-Reading Accuracy in Intimate Relationships
Using a video-review procedure, multiple perceivers carried out mind-reading tasks of multiple targets at different levels of acquaintanceship (50 dating couples, friends of the dating partners, and strangers). As predicted, the authors found that mind-reading accuracy was (a). higher as a function of increased acquaintanceship, (b). relatively unaffected by target effects, (c). influenced by individual differences in perceivers' ability, and (d)…
Leader–member exchange (LMX) differentiation and work outcomes
According to leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, leaders develop different quality relationships with followers in their team (termed LMX differentiation). An important theoretical question concerns how different LMX relationships within a team affect followers' work outcomes. This paper provides a critical review of the concept of LMX differentiation. We propose that the LMX differentiation process leads to patterns of LMX relationships that ca…
Unraveling the role of forgiveness in family relationships
Testing the idea that the process of forgiveness is intrinsically different across diverse relationships, this study examined the role of forgiveness in different family relationships. In 2 laboratory sessions 1 year apart, 114 families (each including 2 parents and 1 child) completed a new measure of family forgiveness and many individual-level, relationship-level, and family-level variables that have been previously linked with forgiveness. Aft…
Social cognition in leader–follower relationships
Relationship‐based approaches to leadership (e.g., Leader–Member Exchange theory) currently represent one of the most popular approaches to understanding workplace leadership. Although the concept of “relationship” is central to these approaches, generally this has not been well articulated and is often conceptualized simply in terms of relationship quality between the leader and the follower. In contrast, research in the wider relationship scien…
Cognitive and Behavioral Accommodation in Close Relationships
This research examined the role of cognitive and behavioral accommodation in two studies. In study 1, participants responded to hypothetical negative behaviors from their partners. Study 2 involved the re-coding and reanalysis (using structural equation modeling) of data from a prior study in which married couples had problem-solving discussions and provided reports of their on-line thoughts and feelings. The results from the two studies were mix…
When Leaders are in the Numerical Majority or Minority
Two experiments examined the effect a leader has when supported by a numerical majority or minority. In both experiments, participants read a team problem‐solving scenario where a solution was supported by either a numerical majority or minority of the team. In some conditions, the team leader also supported the same solution as the majority or minority in other conditions the leader did not. When the leader was supported by the majority, its sol…
Leading groups
Although leadership is fundamentally a social psychological (and group) phenomenon, interest in the social psychology of leadership has waxed and waned over the years. The present article briefly reviews this chequered history and then discusses recent theoretical and empirical developments that extend the study of social cognition and social identity to the domain of leadership. In addition, we consider how the eight empirical articles that cons…
Man, I feel like a woman
Two experiments were undertaken with 3 goals: (a) to determine whether manipulating the desirability of including empathy as part of one's gender-role identity motivates accurate mind-reading, (b) to ascertain whether target readability moderates the strength of this effect, and (c) to test whether these effects are mediated by the complexity of perceivers' inferential strategies. Participants viewed videotapes of 2 couples discussing relationshi…
On-line empathic accuracy in marital interaction
Seventy-four married couples reviewed videotapes of their problem-solving discussions and described self and partner on-line thoughts and feelings. Scores were derived measuring empathic accuracy, assumed similarity, and shared cognitive focus. As expected, the results showed that more highly educated partners and those married for shorter time periods achieved superior empathic accuracy. In contrast, assumed similarity was significantly related …
Ideals in intimate relationships
Cognitive and Behavioral Accommodation in Close Relationships
This research examined the role of cognitive and behavioral accommodation in two studies. In study 1, participants responded to hypothetical negative behaviors from their partners. Study 2 involved the re-coding and reanalysis (using structural equation modeling) of data from a prior study in which married couples had problem-solving discussions and provided reports of their on-line thoughts and feelings. The results from the two studies were mix…
The Measurement of Perceived Relationship Quality Components
This research tested three models of how the relationship evaluation components of satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love are structured and cognitively represented. Participants in Study 1 rated their intimate relationships on six previously developed scales that measured each construct and on a new inventory—the Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC) Inventory. As predicted, confirmatory factor analysis revealed …
Behavior and on‐line cognition in marital interaction
This research examined the relations among various distal variables and interactive behavior and on‐line cognition in a complete longitudinal design over 1 year. Fifty‐seven married couples had problem‐solving discussions that were videotaped. Interactive behavior was coded by observers, and on‐line cognitions were assessed using a tape‐review procedure (see Fletcher & Fitness, 1990). As predicted, the association between relationship satisfactio…
Ideals, perceptions, and evaluations in early relationship development
This research examined partner and relationship perceptions and ideal standards in 100 individuals over time, from the 1st to the 12th month of their dating relationships. As expected, the results revealed that (a) individuals evaluated their relationships on both distinct evaluative components and global evaluative dimensions, (b) higher ideal-perception consistency was associated with higher perceived quality of relationships and partners, (c) …
Mind-Reading Accuracy in Intimate Relationships
Using a video-review procedure, multiple perceivers carried out mind-reading tasks of multiple targets at different levels of acquaintanceship (50 dating couples, friends of the dating partners, and strangers). As predicted, the authors found that mind-reading accuracy was (a). higher as a function of increased acquaintanceship, (b). relatively unaffected by target effects, (c). influenced by individual differences in perceivers' ability, and (d)…
Man, I feel like a woman
Two experiments were undertaken with 3 goals: (a) to determine whether manipulating the desirability of including empathy as part of one's gender-role identity motivates accurate mind-reading, (b) to ascertain whether target readability moderates the strength of this effect, and (c) to test whether these effects are mediated by the complexity of perceivers' inferential strategies. Participants viewed videotapes of 2 couples discussing relationshi…
Unraveling the role of forgiveness in family relationships
Testing the idea that the process of forgiveness is intrinsically different across diverse relationships, this study examined the role of forgiveness in different family relationships. In 2 laboratory sessions 1 year apart, 114 families (each including 2 parents and 1 child) completed a new measure of family forgiveness and many individual-level, relationship-level, and family-level variables that have been previously linked with forgiveness. Aft…
Leading groups
Although leadership is fundamentally a social psychological (and group) phenomenon, interest in the social psychology of leadership has waxed and waned over the years. The present article briefly reviews this chequered history and then discusses recent theoretical and empirical developments that extend the study of social cognition and social identity to the domain of leadership. In addition, we consider how the eight empirical articles that cons…
Social cognition in leader–follower relationships
Relationship‐based approaches to leadership (e.g., Leader–Member Exchange theory) currently represent one of the most popular approaches to understanding workplace leadership. Although the concept of “relationship” is central to these approaches, generally this has not been well articulated and is often conceptualized simply in terms of relationship quality between the leader and the follower. In contrast, research in the wider relationship scien…
Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) and Performance
This paper reports a meta‐analysis that examines the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) relationship quality and a multidimensional model of work performance (task, citizenship, and counterproductive performance). The results show a positive relationship between LMX and task performance (146 samples, ρ = .30) as well as citizenship performance (97 samples, ρ = .34), and negatively with counterproductive performance (19 samples, ρ =…
Leader–member exchange (LMX) differentiation and work outcomes
According to leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, leaders develop different quality relationships with followers in their team (termed LMX differentiation). An important theoretical question concerns how different LMX relationships within a team affect followers' work outcomes. This paper provides a critical review of the concept of LMX differentiation. We propose that the LMX differentiation process leads to patterns of LMX relationships that ca…
When Leaders are in the Numerical Majority or Minority
Two experiments examined the effect a leader has when supported by a numerical majority or minority. In both experiments, participants read a team problem‐solving scenario where a solution was supported by either a numerical majority or minority of the team. In some conditions, the team leader also supported the same solution as the majority or minority in other conditions the leader did not. When the leader was supported by the majority, its sol…
Can’t get you o u t of my head
How can a complicated, ambivalent relationship with a boss be both draining and generative? This paper challenges the view that leader–member exchange (LMX) ambivalence is solely harmful. Using the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework, we examine how conflicting feelings toward a leader can be experienced as both constraining and motivating. We focus on epistemic motivation—the tendency to seek deeper understanding—as a key factor that shapes h…
Psychology (14 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (10 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior (5 works) · Cognition (3 works) · Customer Service Quality and Loyalty (3 works) · Feeling (3 works) · Marriage and Sexual Relationships (3 works)