领导给的时间为什么这么少?——权力对时间认知的影响及作用机制

Why do Leaders Give Shorter Time?--The Influence of Power on Time Cognition and Its Mechanisms

人们倾向于低估完成任务的预计时间,这种偏差的时间认知被称作“计划谬误”。权力是指个体能够以不对称的方式影响他人的能力或心理状态,高权力者比低权力者更倾向低估完成任务的预计时间;高估当前可用时间;表现出更低的时间折扣。权力影响时间认知的作用机制主要涉及注意、动机、控制感、时间自我和思维方式等。未来研究应进一步对权力效应进行检验,探究个体目标取向和情景线索对权力效应的调节作用,以及权力现象的文化差异。

Although the pre-existing studies have shown that power can significantly affect individual time cognition,the mechanism underlying this relationship is not clear.The purpose of this review is to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the effect of power on time cognition by systematically summarizing the existing empirical and theoretical studies.Specifically,research has shown that high-power people(vs.the low)are more likely to underestimate the expected time needed to complete tasks and overestimate the available time resource at present.Moreover,individuals possessing high power also perceive the temporal distance between present and future much closer and show a lower level of temporal discounting.In summary,the mechanisms underlying the effect of power on time cognition involve attention,motivation,sense of control,temporal self,and thinking style.Future studies are necessary to further examine the effect of power on time cognition from the perspective of more ecological interpersonal relationship and social situation,investigate the regulatory role of situational cues and individual’s goal-orientation in the association of power with prosocial behaviors,and expand the effect of power from the cultural background.