Gilad, Corinne

The current studies examined the interplay of dominance and power in their effects on various forms of prosociality, along with potential mechanisms that may account for their differential effects. Study 1 found that dominance and power had opposing effects on general prosocial tendencies, with dominance negatively relating to and power positively relating to general prosociality. Study 2 found the negative effects of dominance to be consistent both for general and relationship-specific prosociality. The effects of power were not replicated for the outcomes shared with Study 1, but other positive associations were found between power and prosocial propensities. Indirect effects in studies 1 and 2 supported the potential mediating role of other focus in explaining the differential effects of dominance and power. Study 3 utilized an experimental design to directly examine the potential mediating role of other-focus, by manipulating independent versus interdependent self-construals. Significant interactions between power and condition supported the notion that power positively affects prosociality by increasing other-focus. In the interdependent condition, power significantly predicted perspective-taking, whereas in the independent condition, the effect of power on perspective-taking was not significant. Study 4 involved collecting dyadic data from romantic partners, but did not find any significant partner effects. In line with the other studies, dominance was negatively associated with self-reported supportive tendencies as well as self-reported perceptions of a partner’s supportive behaviors.

The current research investigated the effects of competition on empathy and
prosociality in two studies. Study 1 aimed to explore associations between competition
and prosociality by asking participants to play a computer puzzle game that was either
high or low on competitiveness, and then to complete measures of empathy, perspective
taking, compassionate love and willingness to sacrifice for a romantic partner. Study 1
found a marginally significant difference across conditions for perspective taking, a
marginally significant gender interaction for perspective taking, and a significant gender
by condition interaction for compassionate love, in support of hypotheses that
competition reduces prosocial responses in men. Study 2 addressed methodological
limitations from Study 1 and examined the effect across a broader range of relationship
contexts, including close friends. Results for Study 2 did not replicate the marginally significant effect for perspective taking seen in Study 1, but found a significant
interaction between gender and condition predicting perspective taking. Significant
findings in line with prior research emerged for dominance and commitment, indicating
that higher dominance and lower commitment were associated with less empathy and
prosociality. Overall, results do not consistently support the hypothesized effect of
competitive situations on prosocial and empathic behavior, although results of
exploratory analyses suggest potential moderated or conditional effects.