Abstract: Power refers to the potential ability of an individual to influence and control others (Guinote, 2017). The relationship between power and emotions has been a controversial research topic. The prevailing perspective based on Keltner et al.’s (2003) approach/inhibition theory argues that high/low power triggers positive/negative emotions, respectively (Bombari et al., 2017; Van Kleef & Lange, 2020). However, some studies did not find an effect of power on emotions (Hadar et al., 2019; Jia et al., 2018). These inconsistent results suggest that the relationship between power and emotions may be moderated by other factors. The influence of power on emotions is apparent during some conditions, but not so much in others. In daily life, an individual’s power and emotions vary according to different social interactions. Feedback is a core aspect of social interactions (Rappaport & Barch, 2020). Past research demonstrated that positive (vs. negative) feedback elevates mood (Belschak & Den Hartog, 2009). According to the power-control theory and social distance theory, high- and low-power individuals differ in their possession of valuable resources, interdependence, and social distance toward others (Fiske, 1993; Magee & Smith, 2013), which may lead to social feedback (positive vs. negative) having different importance and meaning for them. Feedback may have a greater influence on low-power (vs. high-power) individuals. Based on this claim, we propose that power and feedback jointly influence emotions. This study examines the effects of power and feedback on emotions in social interactions. Study 1 employed the experience sampling method and collected data on the social interactions of 140 individuals, three times a day for five days. In total, participants reported 1706 social interactions in which they received social feedback from others. For each incident of social interaction, participants’ power perception, feedback from others, and their emotions were assessed. A multilevel model was then tested. Study 2 used a 2 (power: high vs. low) × 2 (feedback: positive vs. negative) between-subject experimental design to examine the influences of power and feedback on emotions. Power and feedback were first manipulated via a recalling task, and then participants’ emotions were measured. A total of 148 participants participated in this study. Both studies showed an interaction between power and feedback: (1) In situations where the participants had low (vs. high) power, feedback influenced their emotions, showing that positive (vs. negative) feedback elevated positive emotions; (2) In positive feedback situations, power did not affect participants’ emotions. Whereas, in negative feedback situations, power increased participants’ positive emotions. This study has several contributions. First, it clarifies the inconsistent findings of previous research on the relationship between power and emotions. We show that the effects of power on emotions depend on social interactions involving positive and negative feedback. Second, this study expands the range of power effects explained by the power-control theory and social distance theory. We suggest that the asymmetry of control over resources, social distance, and interdependence explains why power and feedback jointly affect emotions. Third, our study reveals how evaluation-related factors (social feedback) moderates the relationship between low power and emotions, which deepens the understanding of the boundary conditions for low-power effects explained by the approach/inhibition theory of power.

Key words: power, emotion, feedback, social interaction, experience sampling

摘要： 以往研究关于权力是否影响情绪存在结果争议, 这意味着可能存在其它因素的作用。本研究基于权力控制理论和社会距离理论, 探究了社交情境中权力和反馈对情绪的影响。研究一采用经验取样法收集了140名被试五天内的1706段社交经历, 研究二采用实验法考察了148名被试的社交经历。结果表明, 权力和反馈对情绪存在交互影响: (1)当个体处于低权力情境时, 反馈影响情绪, 反馈越积极, 情绪也越积极; (2)当个体获得积极反馈时, 权力不影响情绪; 当个体获得消极反馈时, 权力影响情绪, 权力越高, 情绪相对更积极。本研究有助于厘清以往研究关于权力与情绪关系的争议。

关键词: 权力, 情绪, 反馈, 社会交往, 经验取样法