The balance of power: Interpersonal consequences of differential power andexpectancies

The cognitive and behavioral effects of perceived power and expected partne r competence were examined in a task-oriented dyadic interaction. Specifica lly, the authors manipulated the effects of power and expectancy on social information processing during and subsequent to a dyadic problem-solving in teraction. In addition, dispositional power orientation was measured. Resul ts indicated that perceiver power led to self-enhancement and derogation of the target and both perceiver and target awareness of perceiver power mode rated the effects of interpersonal expectancies. Furthermore, there are imp ortant differences between situational power and dispositional dominance or ientation. These results advance current models of power and suggest the pe rvasiveness of power effects in our interactions with others.