Men and women may cognitively construe power differently, i.e., either as an opportunity or a responsibility. In the current research, we explore the influence of gender identity and conformity on...Show moreMen and women may cognitively construe power differently, i.e., either as an opportunity or a responsibility. In the current research, we explore the influence of gender identity and conformity on power construal. To study these hypotheses, 402 participants were primed with having low power or high power using a recall task; subsequently the different meanings of power (responsibility and opportunity) were measured. Results indicate that the high power condition significantly increased the perception of both opportunities and responsibilities. Sex and conformity did not influence power construal while a more feminine gender identity was significantly related to the perception of responsibilities. Future studies could possibly look into how the findings of the current study fit in with the previously recorded findings, since there seems to be some discrepancy between the findings.Show less
Power can be construed in terms of opportunities or responsibilities. The current research examined the effect of in biological sex, gender, gender identity and gender on the power construal of...Show morePower can be construed in terms of opportunities or responsibilities. The current research examined the effect of in biological sex, gender, gender identity and gender on the power construal of power holders. Female gender identity and role were hypothesized to be associated to power construal in terms of responsibility (rather than opportunity), while male gender identity and role were hypothesized to be associated to power construal in terms of opportunity (rather than responsibility). This was examined by administration of a questionnaire. Respondents consisted of male and female professionals in leadership roles from the UK. The study found that female gender identity and femininity are positively related to power construed in terms of responsibility. No significant relationships between gender identity and power construal as opportunity were found. This highlights the relevance of gender on power construal in terms of responsibilityShow less
It has been suggested that power provides both opportunities for promoting the achievement of one's own goals and responsibilities for the outcomes of those who are dependent on the power-holder....Show moreIt has been suggested that power provides both opportunities for promoting the achievement of one's own goals and responsibilities for the outcomes of those who are dependent on the power-holder. In our study we investigated whether sex and gender identity influence the construal of power as either opportunity or responsibility in a variety of power contexts, while also examining the possible moderating role of personality traits. Power was manipulated by priming participants in a high or low power condition, by requesting them to describe a situation in which they felt powerful or powerless. There were also questions about the meaning they ascribed to that power, while their gender identity was measured by a recently developed scale. Our results showed that participants in the high power condition were more likely to construe their power as both an opportunity and a responsibility than the participants in the low power condition and that femininity is associated with the construal of power as a responsibility irrespective of the level of power. Females construed their power as a responsibility more than males only when we controlled for neuroticism, openness to experience and their stability of power. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.Show less
Literature has demonstrated that power can be construed as a responsibility or as an opportunity. However, a better understanding is needed on how gender roles influence power construal. This study...Show moreLiterature has demonstrated that power can be construed as a responsibility or as an opportunity. However, a better understanding is needed on how gender roles influence power construal. This study investigated whether diverse gender identities tend to construe power differently. Furthermore, it also explored whether culture orientation – individualism and collectivism – and socioeconomic status influence the relationship between gender and power construal. It was hypothesized that: gender would not influence power construal; that individualism predicts power construed as an opportunity, and collectivism as a responsibility; and finally, that higher scores in objective and subjective measures of socioeconomic status led to power appraised as an opportunity. To test these hypotheses, gender was measured with a continuous variable. Culture orientation was assessed with four dimensions of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Lastly, objective and subjective socioeconomic status was measured by age, education, household income, and by the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status. The results demonstrated that a stronger feminine identification was associated with a stronger tendency to construe power as a responsibility. Findings concerning culture orientation and socioeconomic status confirmed the predictions. Age was also revealed as a significant predictor of power as an opportunity. The results regarding gender were interpreted in terms of social identification. Results on culture and socioeconomic status were discussed in terms of how these constructs serve as relevant social identities influencing the construal of power. Although more research is needed, the results highlight the importance of assuming power construal within specific social and economic contexts.Show less
