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Power affects basic cognition: Increased attentional inhibition and flexibility

Guinote, Ana (2007) Power affects basic cognition: Increased attentional inhibition and flexibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43 (5). pp. 685-697. ISSN 0022-1031. (doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.06.008) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:2056)

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Abstract

The present article examines effects of power on basic cognition. It proposes that power bolsters the ability to attend to information selectively; enhancing the processing of information that is related to accessible constructs in detriment of peripheral, less accessible information. In contrast, powerlessness increases attunement to peripheral information, inducing greater distractibility and less attentional flexibility. Experiment I focuses on attention to an object and its context. Experiment 2 examines attentional focus and readiness to act. Experiment 3 examines attention to global vs. local aspects of a focal target. Powerful individuals, relative to powerless individuals, showed greater ability to inhibit peripheral information, and greater ability to focus attention in line with the demands of the task. Furthermore, inhibiting peripheral information facilitated action. The consequences of these findings for different domains are discussed. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jesp.2006.06.008
Uncontrolled keywords: power; attention; inhibition; attentional flexibility; distractibility; global and local processing
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Stephen Holland
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 19:25 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/2056 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Guinote, Ana.

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