The Social Relations–Approach Theory of Social Hierarchy: Understanding the Distinct Psychological Experiences of Status and Power.
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| Title: | The Social Relations–Approach Theory of Social Hierarchy: Understanding the Distinct Psychological Experiences of Status and Power. |
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| Authors: | Hays, Nicholas A.1 (AUTHOR) hays@broad.msu.edu, Lee, Alice J.2 (AUTHOR), Blader, Steven L.3 (AUTHOR), Galinsky, Adam D.4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Psychological Review. Jul202651, Vol. 133 Issue 4, p957-993. 37p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Interpersonal relations, *Emotional experience, Interdependence theory, Approach behavior, Ingroups (Social groups), Social dominance, Respect |
| Abstract: | Despite extensive research on the psychology of power, relatively little theorizing has addressed the psychological experience of the other prevalent base of social hierarchy: status. Furthermore, the field lacks a unified theoretical framework that accounts for the psychological experience of both status and power. To address these gaps, we introduce the social relations–approach theory of social hierarchy. Our theory identifies social relations and approach orientation as the two fundamental dimensions that shape how individuals psychologically experience social hierarchy. We propose that status and power have divergent effects along the social relations dimension but similar effects along the approach dimension. Along the social relations dimension, status heightens a sense of symmetric interdependence across status levels. In contrast, power enhances asymmetric interdependence, with high power experiencing a sense of independence and low power experiencing a sense of dependence. Along the approach dimension, we propose that high power and high status each increase approach orientation but do so through different mechanisms shaped by the social relations dimension. We then offer novel propositions about how status and power differentially guide intrapsychic processes (group identification and attention to and action in pursuit of collective vs. personal goals) and interpersonal processes (trust and rank maintenance concerns). We also theorize how status and power operate in tandem (e.g., when one is high and one is low) and are moderated by properties of the hierarchy, the individual, the group, and national culture. Overall, our theory provides a parsimonious and generative understanding of the psychological experience of social hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Psychological Review is the property of American Psychological Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193633656 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The Social Relations–Approach Theory of Social Hierarchy: Understanding the Distinct Psychological Experiences of Status and Power. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hays%2C+Nicholas+A%2E%22">Hays, Nicholas A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> hays@broad.msu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+Alice+J%2E%22">Lee, Alice J.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Blader%2C+Steven+L%2E%22">Blader, Steven L.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Galinsky%2C+Adam+D%2E%22">Galinsky, Adam D.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Psychological+Review%22">Psychological Review</searchLink>. Jul202651, Vol. 133 Issue 4, p957-993. 37p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+experience%22">Emotional experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdependence+theory%22">Interdependence theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Approach+behavior%22">Approach behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ingroups+%28Social+groups%29%22">Ingroups (Social groups)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+dominance%22">Social dominance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Respect%22">Respect</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Despite extensive research on the psychology of power, relatively little theorizing has addressed the psychological experience of the other prevalent base of social hierarchy: status. Furthermore, the field lacks a unified theoretical framework that accounts for the psychological experience of both status and power. To address these gaps, we introduce the social relations–approach theory of social hierarchy. Our theory identifies social relations and approach orientation as the two fundamental dimensions that shape how individuals psychologically experience social hierarchy. We propose that status and power have divergent effects along the social relations dimension but similar effects along the approach dimension. Along the social relations dimension, status heightens a sense of symmetric interdependence across status levels. In contrast, power enhances asymmetric interdependence, with high power experiencing a sense of independence and low power experiencing a sense of dependence. Along the approach dimension, we propose that high power and high status each increase approach orientation but do so through different mechanisms shaped by the social relations dimension. We then offer novel propositions about how status and power differentially guide intrapsychic processes (group identification and attention to and action in pursuit of collective vs. personal goals) and interpersonal processes (trust and rank maintenance concerns). We also theorize how status and power operate in tandem (e.g., when one is high and one is low) and are moderated by properties of the hierarchy, the individual, the group, and national culture. Overall, our theory provides a parsimonious and generative understanding of the psychological experience of social hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Psychological Review is the property of American Psychological Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1037/rev0000618 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 37 StartPage: 957 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations Type: general – SubjectFull: Emotional experience Type: general – SubjectFull: Interdependence theory Type: general – SubjectFull: Approach behavior Type: general – SubjectFull: Ingroups (Social groups) Type: general – SubjectFull: Social dominance Type: general – SubjectFull: Respect Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The Social Relations–Approach Theory of Social Hierarchy: Understanding the Distinct Psychological Experiences of Status and Power. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hays, Nicholas A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lee, Alice J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Blader, Steven L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Galinsky, Adam D. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul202651 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0033295X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 133 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Psychological Review Type: main |
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