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Power moves beyond complementarity: A staring look elicits avoidance in low power perceivers and approach in high power perceivers

Weick, Mario, McCall, Cade, Blascovich, Jim (2017) Power moves beyond complementarity: A staring look elicits avoidance in low power perceivers and approach in high power perceivers. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43 (8). ISSN 0146-1672. E-ISSN 1552-7433. (doi:10.1177/0146167217708576) (KAR id:61014)

Abstract

Sustained, direct eye-gaze — staring — is a powerful cue that elicits strong responses in many primate and non-primate species. The present research examined whether fleeting experiences of high and low power alter individuals’ spontaneous responses to the staring gaze of an onlooker. We report two experimental studies showing that sustained, direct gaze elicits spontaneous avoidance tendencies in low power perceivers, and spontaneous approach tendencies in high power perceivers. These effects emerged during interactions with different targets and when power was manipulated between-individuals (Study 1) and within-individuals (Study 2), thus attesting to a high degree of flexibility in perceivers’ reactions to gaze cues. Together, the present findings indicate that power can break the cycle of complementarity in individuals’ spontaneous responding: low power perceivers complement and move away from, and high power perceivers reciprocate and move towards, staring onlookers.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0146167217708576
Projects: Fellowship
Uncontrolled keywords: power, eye gaze, dominance, complementarity, approach and avoidance
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
Depositing User: Mario Weick
Date Deposited: 23 Mar 2017 21:41 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 17:33 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61014 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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