Leiden University Student Repository

Thiessen, David (2025)

Onderzoek Naar het Effect van de Interpretatie van Macht als Mogelijkheid of Verantwoordelijkheid op de Mate van Risicobereidheid

Bachelor thesis | Psychologie (BSc)

In the current research, we examined whether the amount of risk-taking in individuals with a position of power is affected by the way they interpret their power, which can be either as an opportunity or as a responsibility. The hypothesis that was tested was that people who are primarily focused on the opportunities of their power are more risk-seeking than people who are primarily concerned with the responsibilities. To manipulate the interpretation of power, a prime was used in which half of the total amount of participants (N = 193) had to write something about the possibilities their position provided, and the other half had to write something about the responsibilities. To measure the risk-taking, participants had to choose between a safer and a riskier option in five fictitious scenarios. There was no statistically significant difference between the two conditions (opportunity and responsibility). The prime had a significant effect in the responsibility condition, but not in...Show moreIn the current research, we examined whether the amount of risk-taking in individuals with a position of power is affected by the way they interpret their power, which can be either as an opportunity or as a responsibility. The hypothesis that was tested was that people who are primarily focused on the opportunities of their power are more risk-seeking than people who are primarily concerned with the responsibilities. To manipulate the interpretation of power, a prime was used in which half of the total amount of participants (N = 193) had to write something about the possibilities their position provided, and the other half had to write something about the responsibilities. To measure the risk-taking, participants had to choose between a safer and a riskier option in five fictitious scenarios. There was no statistically significant difference between the two conditions (opportunity and responsibility). The prime had a significant effect in the responsibility condition, but not in the opportunity condition, which could be an explanation for the fact that the amount of risk-taking did not differ significantly between the two groups. For future research, it could be prudent to use a different manipulation and a different risk measure.Show less

Author

Thiessen, David

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Scheepers, D.T.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

nl