Power changes how the brain responds to others.
Abstract
Power dynamics are a ubiquitous feature of human social life, yet little is known about how power is implemented in the brain. Motor resonance is the activation of similar brain networks when acting and when watching someone else act, and is thought to be implemented, in part, by the human mirror system. We investigated the effects of power on motor resonance during an action observation task. Separate groups of participants underwent a high-, neutral, or low-power induction priming procedure, prior to observing the actions of another person. During observation, motor resonance was determined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) via measures of motor cortical output. High-power participants demonstrated lower levels of resonance than low-power participants, suggesting reduced mirroring of other people in those with power. These differences suggest that decreased motor resonance to others' actions might be one of the neural mechanisms underlying power-induced asymmetries in processing our social interaction partners.
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The exercise of power increases testosterone and decreases oxytocin, which in turn leads to higher aggression and lower empathy and prosocial behaviour.
“Furthermore, the exercise of power increases levels of testosterone while decreasing oxytocin which in turn leads to higher levels of aggression and lower levels of empathy and prosocial behaviour (Israel et al. 2009; Owen 2012; Hogeveen et al. 2014; Robertson 2012).”
From Having Burned the Straw Man of Christian Spiritual Leadership, what can We Learn from Jesus About Leading Ethically? (2017) · cites this paper as Hogeveen et al. 2014
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“…to action execution become active when the person observes someone else making the same action; in other words, the observer’s brain resonates with the model’s motor behavior (Hogeveen & Obhi, 2011; Iacoboni, 2009; Oberman & Ramachandran, 2007; Obhi & Hogeveen, 2010; Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 2010).”
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“Since stereotyping often serves to rationalize prejudice toward a group, our results may help to explain the previously reported link between increased prejudice and reduced resonance (Avenanti, Sirigu, & Aglioti, 2010; Gutsell & Inzlicht, 2010).”
ResultSelf-citationInhibition of imitative behaviour and social cognition
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Social status modulates neural activity in the mentalizing network
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- Authors
- Hogeveen, J., Inzlicht, M., & Obhi, S. S.
- Affiliations
- Wilfrid Laurier University (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
- Published
- 2014
- Volume
- 143
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 755-762
- ISSN
- 0096-3445 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2222
- OpenAlex
- W2116794299
- Cited by
- 135
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11
- FWCI
- 18.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Experimental Psychology General (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- Engineering Research Council
- Social Science and Humanities Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Keywords
- power, motor resonance, action observation, mirror system, social cognition, motor cortex, social asymmetry, transcranial magnetic stimulation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Brain, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Power, Psychological, Social Behavior, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Young Adult
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