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Power and Emotional Contagion: the Role of Attention, Relational Identification and Trust

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Power and Emotional Contagion: the Role of Attention, Relational Identification and Trust Power and Emotional Contagion: The Role of Attention, Relational Identification and Trust Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Emily Knecht Tarr, B.A. Graduate Program in Labor and Human Resources The Ohio State University 2016 Dissertation Committee: Steffanie L. Wilk, Advisor Robert B. Lount, Jr. Bennett Tepper Copyrighted by Emily Knecht Tarr 2016 Abstract This dissertation examines how attention plays a role in power relationships and individuals’ susceptibility to emotional contagion. By integrating separate literatures on the power—attention relationship and the attention—emotional contagion relationship, I hypothesize and test that the relationship between power and emotional contagion is mediated by attention. Moreover, I examine variables that may affect how power relates to attention: relational identification and trust based on different factors, but propose that these variables work differently for high- and low-powered people. These moderators may further explain the relationship between power and emotional contagion, suggesting a moderated mediation model. This model is tested using two samples, one composed of working professionals and the other of students in a laboratory setting. Results support the mediation hypothesis, but only with negative emotions. Moderation relationships were supported for high-power individuals, but not for low-power individuals. ii Dedicated to my husband, Nate, and my parents for giving me all the love and support I could have hoped for throughout my studies. iii Acknowledgments I would like to sincerely thank my advisor, Steffanie Wilk, for her invaluable help in the completion of this dissertation. I would also like to thank my other committee members, Robert B. Lount, Jr. and Bennett Tepper for their advice and support that made this dissertation what it is. Thank you also to Sarah Doyle for help on statistical analyses and unending support throughout the dissertation process. iv Vita June 2007 .......................................................Worthington Kilbourne High School 2011................................................................B.S. Psychology, Spanish, University of Michigan 2011 to present ..............................................Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Management and Human Resources, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Labor and Human Resources v Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iv Vita...................................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents............................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures.................................................................................................................... xi Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 Attention and Power........................................................................................................ 4 Attention and Influence................................................................................................... 8 Hypotheses........................................................................................................................ 10 The mediating role of attention in the power—emotional contagion relationship ....... 10 Moderators that Decrease Attention for Low-Power Individuals ................................. 15 Moderated Mediation of Trust in Benevolence and Integrity for Low-Power Individuals..................................................................................................................... 17 vi Moderators that Increase Attention for High-Power Individuals.................................. 18 Moderated Mediation of Trust Based on Ability and Relational Identification for High- Power Individuals.......................................................................................................... 22 Methods Overview............................................................................................................ 24 Study 1 .............................................................................................................................. 28 Methods......................................................................................................................... 28 Measures........................................................................................................................ 29 Results ........................................................................................................................... 33 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 36 Study 2 .............................................................................................................................. 38 Methods......................................................................................................................... 38 Measures........................................................................................................................ 41 Results ........................................................................................................................... 48 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 53 General Discussion ........................................................................................................... 54 Theoretical Contributions.............................................................................................. 54 Methodological Contributions....................................................................................... 58 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 60 Practical Implications.................................................................................................... 63 vii References......................................................................................................................... 65 Appendix A: Calculation of the Emotional Contagion Measure...............…....................78 Appendix B: Tables and Figures........................................................................................80 viii List of Tables Table 1: Means, standard deviations, and intercorrelations for variables in Study 1. (Continued) ....................................................................................................................... 80 Table 2: Results for regression analyses testing the main effect of power on attention... 82 Table 3: Results for regression analyses testing the interaction between power and benevolence predicting attention ...................................................................................... 83 Table 4: Results for regression analyses testing the interaction between power and integrity predicting attention............................................................................................. 84 Table 5: Results for analyses testing the curvilinear moderation between power and ability predicting general attention. .................................................................................. 85 Table 6: Results for analyses testing the curvilinear moderation between power and ability predicting attention to emotions. ........................................................................... 86 Table 7: Results for regression analyses testing the interaction between power and relational identification predicting attention..................................................................... 87 Table 8: Means, standard deviations, and intercorrelations for variables in Study 2. Note N = 121. (Continued) .................................................................................... 88 Table 9: Results of analyses testing the direct effect of power on emotional contagion.. 90 ix Table 10: Results of analyses testing the indirect effect of power on the three measures of attention. ........................................................................................................................... 91 Table 11: Results of analyses testing the indirect effect of attention on emotional contagion........................................................................................................................... 92 Table 12: Results of analyses examining the interaction between power and benevolence predicting the three measures of attention. ....................................................................... 93 Table 13: Results of analyses examining the interaction between power and integrity predicting the three measures of attention. ....................................................................... 94 Table 14: Results of analyses examining the curvilinear
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