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

Weick., M.; McCall, C.; Blascovich, J.

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.

Citation

Weick., M., McCall, C., & Blascovich, J. (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), 1188-1201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217708576

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 23, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2017
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 12, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 18, 2018
• Journal: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0146-1672
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-7433
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1188-1201
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217708576
• Keywords: Power, Eye gaze, Dominance, Complementarity, Approach and avoidance
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1349392
• Related Public URLs: http://kar.kent.ac.uk/61014/