How Shifts in Power Affect Racial Attitudes

Abstract

Research shows that the powerful may lean heavily on automatic cognitions to make judgments and shape their attitudes toward other people. There has been little research to experimentally investigate whether losing or gaining power has consequences for our judgments or attitudes toward others. Three studies tested the consequences of shifting in power, including the emotional impact on the shifter and the attitudinal and behavioral consequences towards racial minorities. Study 1 assigned participants to an initial high-power power or low-power position, followed by an assessment of emotional states. Participants were then randomly assigned to another power position, simulating a shift in power or no shift, followed by another assessment of their emotional states. Results revealed differences in negative emotions after shifting from a high-power position to a low-power position. Study 2 replicated and extended Study 1 by investigating whether shifting in power would affect participants' implicit racial attitudes. Following the shift participants completed a hiring decision task in which they made hiring choices between Black and White candidates. Results from Study 1 were replicated but there was no evidence that, following a shift in power, participants had different hiring preferences. Study 3 replicated Studies 1 and 2, showing that participants experienced negative emotions at a higher rate after shifting down. Study 3 also examined participants’ automatically activated responses to images of Black or White people following a shift in power. Results showed a link between original and subsequent power position and Social Dominance Orientation.