This thesis investigates the interplay between power construal, conflict handling styles, and risk-taking behavior among individuals in positions of power. We hypothesized that individuals...Show moreThis thesis investigates the interplay between power construal, conflict handling styles, and risk-taking behavior among individuals in positions of power. We hypothesized that individuals perceiving power as an opportunity would exhibit higher risk-taking and a more competitive conflict style, whereas those viewing power as a responsibility would lean towards cooperative conflict resolution. However, our results revealed a more nuanced picture. While power construed as opportunity did not significantly affect risk-taking, it correlated positively with a variety of conflict styles, suggesting a flexible approach based on situational factors. Conversely, responsibility construal showed a slight positive correlation with problem-solving conflict style. The findings contribute to understanding power dynamics, shedding light on the complexities of conflict resolution and risk-taking behavior in leadership roles.Show less
People who construe their power as a responsibility are often less likely to take risks than people who construe their power as an opportunity. The main objective of this research was to explore...Show morePeople who construe their power as a responsibility are often less likely to take risks than people who construe their power as an opportunity. The main objective of this research was to explore the connection between power construal and risk-taking and the role of regulatory focus. Regulatory focus theory distinguishes between a promotion focus and a prevention focus. Based on former research, we predicted that people who perceive their power more as responsibility and have a prevention focus take less risk. People who perceive their power more as opportunity and a promotion focus will take more risks. After dividing the sample (N=207) over power as responsibility and power as opportunity conditions, to manipulate power construal, tested the proposed hypotheses. There were no significant main effects. However, we found a negative significant effect of prevention focus on risk-taking. Also, while conducting exploratory research, we found an negative significant effect of prevention focus on financial risk specifically. In view of methodological improvements, further research is needed to find evidence for the proposed hypotheses and use the obtained results e.g. to develop interventions.Show 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
Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) refers to employees' individual actions and behaviors outside their formal job description, which are not formally requested or directly rewarded but can...Show moreOrganizational citizenship behavior (OCB) refers to employees' individual actions and behaviors outside their formal job description, which are not formally requested or directly rewarded but can be beneficial to themselves and the greater organizational functioning and efficiency. Due to technological developments, organizations and their employees are increasingly participating on social media, where employees can express their support for their organization. This online behavior can be viewed as online ambassadorship behavior (OA). The current study (N = 196) uses a survey to investigate the differences in employees' general engagement, perception, and the motives to engage in online ambassadorship in comparison to two affiliative OCB's, namely civic virtue (CV) and organizational loyalty (OL). As expected, engagement in OA was lower than in CV and OL and perceived as socially riskier and more visible. Unexpectedly, there were no significant relationships between self-enhancement and organizational identification regarding OA engagement, which indicated that self-enhancement and organizational identification are not motives for employee’s engagement. In sum, this study provided evidence that employees’ perceived perception influences engagement in OA.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
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Threats to Muslim identification are common (Wellman & Tokuno, 2004). Religious identity threats target the individual or group, but also attack the revered system of beliefs on which the...Show moreThreats to Muslim identification are common (Wellman & Tokuno, 2004). Religious identity threats target the individual or group, but also attack the revered system of beliefs on which the identity is founded (Ysseldyk, Matheson, & Anisman, 2010; 2011). Hence, a fundamental coping resource (i.e., religious beliefs) might be undermined and negative consequences for emotions might ensue. The present study that used a survey design and examined 59 Muslims investigated religious identity or religiosity in understanding how a religious identity threat is dealt with by Muslims forming a religious minority. Intrinsic (religious belief) vs extrinsic-social (social aspects of religious identity) religious orientations underlying religious identity were hypothesized to differentially predict threat appraisal, emotion vs problem oriented coping and negative emotions. Results show an intrinsic orientation to predict emotion-focused coping and intense negative emotions. An extrinsic orientation relates to problem-focused coping and less intense negative emotions. To conclude, especially in the context of intrinsic religiosity, a strong impact of identity threat is linked to a heightened focus on as well as experience of negative emotions. These findings point to importance of considering particularly intrinsic identification in regard to its wider ‘construction’, to improve the understanding of religious identification (in religious minorities) in the context of recurrent negative evaluation.Show less
Identification with all humanity is an important construct for solving global issues but is often hard to achieve. Based on Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, it was predicted that exposure to a dual...Show moreIdentification with all humanity is an important construct for solving global issues but is often hard to achieve. Based on Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, it was predicted that exposure to a dual identity (comprising the most abstract social category: humanity in combination with another social category) could lead to a stronger identification with all humanity. With a dual identity, the excessive inclusiveness of humanity is compensated by the distinctiveness of a less inclusive social identity. The research started with a pre-measurement, then people were exposed to a dual identity in which humanity was combined with a social category (the neighborhood, city/village, the Netherlands, or Europe). Distinctiveness, inclusiveness, the degree of identification with the social category, and harmony with humanity were measured. After this manipulation, people completed the IWAH questionnaire, and their attitude towards global problems was measured. The results showed no significant difference between the experimental conditions and the control condition on identification with all humanity after the exposure to dual identity. However, people exposed to very inclusive social categories created more identification with all humanity and experienced more harmony than people in the less inclusive social category conditions. A relationship was found between identification with all humanity and a positive attitude towards solving global problems. Results are discussed in terms of a successful but reversed effect of dual identity. Theoretical and methodological reasons for the reversed effect are discussed and suggestions for further research are given.Show less
