ESTABLISHING THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF INDIVIDUATION

The present research examined relations between individuation, the wil lingness to publicly differentiate oneself from others, and three dime nsions that may lead to high social impact: creativity, leadership, an d nonverbal expressiveness. Study 1 describes the development of a Q-s ort prototype of the high individuator. In Study 2 the prototype was u sed to construct a new measure of individuation; individuation showed predicted relations with creativity, leadership, and nonverbal express iveness. In Study 3 the prototype measure was used to examine the beha vioral expression of individuation within the context of a combined ma nagerial and personality assessment center. High individuators engaged in more creativity, leadership, and nonverbal expressiveness; they we re more willing to express dissenting opinions; and they contributed m ore to a group discussion task than did low individuators. The results clarify the link between high individuation and high social impact.