Why do dominant personalities attain influence in face-to-face groups? The competence-signaling effects of trait dominance
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6203379 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cameron Anderson (0000-0002-1913-7109, University of California, Berkeley), Gavin J Kilduff (0000-0001-5327-058X, University of California, Berkeley) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 491-503 |
| Publication date | 2009-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315 |
| Publisher | American Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1037/a0014201 |
| PMID | 19159145 |
| OpenAlex | W2118186561 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 134 |
| References cited | 40 |
Individuals high in the personality trait dominance consistently attain high levels of influence in groups. Why they do is unclear, however, because most group theories assert that people cannot attain influence simply by behaving assertively and forcefully; rather, they need to possess superior task abilities and leadership skills. In the present research, the authors proposed that individuals high in trait dominance attain influence because they behave in ways that make them appear competent--even when they actually lack competence. Two studies examined task groups using a social relations analysis of peer perceptions (D. A. Kenny & L. LaVoie, 1984). The authors found that individuals higher in trait dominance were rated as more competent by fellow group members, outside peer observers, and research staff members, even after controlling for individuals' actual abilities. Furthermore, frequency counts of discrete behaviors showed that dominance predicts the enactment of competence-signaling behaviors, which in turn predicts peer ratings of competence. These findings extend researchers' understanding of trait dominance, hierarchies in groups, and perceptions of competence and abilities
Big Five personality traits · Competence (human resources) · Developmental psychology · Dominance (genetics) · Perception · Personality · Social change · Social competence · Social perception · Trait · Cultural Differences and Values · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 134 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 7,88 |
| Citation span | 2009 - 2026 (18) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | Yes |
| Citation types | Neutral: 126 |