MULTILEVEL IN FORMATION-PROCESSING EXPLANATIONS OF FOLLOWERS LEADERSHIP PERCEPTIONS

The information-processing and person perception literatures imply tha t leadership perceptions will be based on both affective and cognitive processing strategies. We propose that both affective and cognitive i nformation-processing mechanisms may work at a variety of levels (indi vidual, dyad, and group) to determine followers' perceptions of leader s. Although the role of affective processing in leadership perception has been little investigated, it plays a key role in the rapid formati on of a general liking (or disliking) that then sets the basis for mor e elaborate cognitive and affective processing. Especially interesting is the possibility that the development of mutual liking depends not only upon characteristics of individual followers or leaders but also upon dyadic and group-level influences on affective processing. Cognit ive processing is also subject to dyad- and group-level effects, as le ader characteristics have the potential to cue different prototypes in dyadic relations. Similarly, groups can influence prototype availabil ity, mood, information used, and other determinants of subsequent lead ership perceptions.