权力对人际敏感性的影响

The influence of power on interpersonal sensitivity

高权力还是低权力的个体更能准确地理解他人的想法和感受?这个问题在人际关系研究领域没有定论。长期以来研究者认为,高权力者的人际敏感性要弱于低权力者,但近年来这一观点受到很多的质疑。研究发现,在特定情况下,高权力者的人际敏感性可能强于低权力者。虽然目前为止两种“矛盾”的观点都有各自相应的实证结论,但缺乏理论上的系统解释。通过对当前权力与人际敏感性关系的争议进行梳理,并以权力对认知的影响为基础,结合权力通过情绪和动机的作用,整合形成权力的影响机制,不仅可以在一定程度上诠释已有的“矛盾”观点,还可以由此明确未来从个人因素和社会因素出发进一步深入研究两者关系的方向。

As regards interpersonal relationship, it is inconclusive to determine whether an individual with high power or low power could better understand the feelings or thoughts of others. For a long time, research suggests that people with high(vs. low) power status exhibit lower interpersonal sensitivity. However, this viewpoint has been challenged by more recent findings that under some circumstances, an individual with high power tends to have stronger interpersonal sensitivity than those with low power. Although these two conflicting views are backed up by their empirical findings, there is still a dearth of theoretical analysis in this context. An integrative cognitive framework which also involves emotions and motivations, is used to unveil the mechanism of how power exerts an influence on interpersonal relationship. It is hoped that the findings will not only help explain the contradictory views but also lead to future research examining individual and social factors involved in this issue.