Social Power Increases Interoceptive Accuracy

Abstract

Building on recent psychological research showing that power increases self-focused attention, we propose that having power increases accuracy in perception of bodily signals, a phenomenon known as interoceptive accuracy. Consistent with our proposition, participants in a high-power experimental condition outperformed those in the control and low-power conditions in the Schandry heartbeat-detection task. We demonstrate that the effect of power on interoceptive accuracy is not explained by participants’ physiological arousal, affective state, or general intention for accuracy. Rather, consistent with our reasoning that experiencing power shifts attentional resources inward, we show that the effect of power on interoceptive accuracy is dependent on individuals’ chronic tendency to focus on their internal sensations. Moreover, we demonstrate that individuals’ chronic sense of power also predicts interoceptive accuracy similar to, and independent of, how their situationally induced feeling of power does. We therefore provide further support on the relation between power and enhanced perception of bodily signals. Our findings offer a novel perspective–a psychophysiological account–on how power might affect judgments and behavior. We highlight and discuss some of these intriguing possibilities for future research.

Mindfulness and Behavior Change

“…The future accessibility, relevance, and ethical dissemination of existing MBPs will depend on adequate training of diverse MBP teachers/facilitators and on research agendas that prioritize overlapping areas of cultural humility, cultural accessibility, and trauma-sensitive delivery of MBPs, particularly for those affected by historical and intergenerational traumas. 441 Given the potential relationship between interoception and social power, 442 internalized oppression, 443 and chronic illness, 173 , 444 , 445 future research is needed on interventions that cultivate embodiment and interoception, 285 including movement, 446 drumming, 447 , 448 music, 449 – 452 and dance 453 —which may be more culturally accessible and specifically helpful for people with intergenerational trauma, 454 and serve to foster social connectedness for marginalized populations with chronic illnesses. 453 …”

Improving interoceptive ability through the practice of power posing: A pilot study

“…Furthermore, there is preliminary evidence suggesting that interoceptive deficits can be targeted through the enhancement of self-focus [34]. Ainley et al [35, 36], for example, found that interoceptive accuracy could be increased when individuals looked at themselves in a mirror or processed self-narrative information.…”

“…One alternative strategy of enhancing self-focus could be through the manipulation of a person's subjective feelings of power [34]. From an evolutionary perspective, powerful individuals are less dependent upon others for personal resources and are therefore less likely to divert their attention outwards towards those less dominant [38, 39].…”

When smiles (and frowns) speak words: Does power impact the correspondence between self‐reported affect and facial expressions?

“…Lakens et al, 2018). We also sought to isolate the effects of low and high power through comparisons with a baseline condition, thereby extending previous studies that focused on the comparison between low and high levels of power (Guinote, 2010;Moeini-Jazani et al, 2017;Weick & Guinote, 2008). The inclusion of a baseline condition proved crucial as it transpired that the effects of low and high power were asymmetric.…”

“…First of all, as discussed, there are strong theoretical grounds to assume that power modulates the correspondence between facial expressions and self-reported affect. Previous studies by Hall and Horgan (2003) as well as Hecht and LaFrance (1998) could be considered outliers when viewed in the context of the wider literature on power and subjective experiences (Berdahl & Martorana, 2006;Dovidio & Ellyson, 1985;Guinote, 2010;Jouffre, 2015;Leach & Weick, 2018;Moeini-Jazani et al, 2017;Petkanopoulou et al, 2019;Weick & Guinote, 2008;Woltin & Guinote, 2015). Incongruent findings arising from different research traditions are hampering theory development, and we need to know whether power impacts coherence in facial expressions.…”