Power Moves Beyond Complementarity: A Staring Look Elicits Avoidance in Low Power Perceivers and Approach in High Power Perceivers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Power Moves Beyond Complementarity

T2 - A Staring Look Elicits Avoidance in Low Power Perceivers and Approach in High Power Perceivers

AU - Weick, Mario

AU - McCall, Cade Andrew

AU - Blascovich, Jim

PY - 2017/8/1

Y1 - 2017/8/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - approach and avoidance

KW - complementarity

KW - dominance

KW - eye-gaze

KW - power

KW - Cues

KW - Avoidance Learning

KW - Choice Behavior

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Fixation, Ocular

KW - Power (Psychology)

KW - Young Adult

KW - Social Behavior

KW - Social Perception

KW - Nonverbal Communication

KW - Adult

KW - Female

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021997635&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0146167217708576

DO - 10.1177/0146167217708576

M3 - Article

C2 - 28903712

SN - 0146-1672

VL - 43

SP - 1188

EP - 1201

JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

IS - 8

ER -