Status Seeking and Manipulative Self‐presentation

Abstract

Three studies examine the relation of dispositional status‐seeking with workplace self‐presentation behaviors. The first study showed that the status‐seeking motive provided incremental prediction, over and above narcissism and self‐monitoring, in self‐reported exaggerating, faking, and fabricating in job search. The second study showed that, after controlling for the traits from the five factor model of personality, status‐seeking predicted the undesirable job‐search behaviors, as well as use of impression‐management tactics at work. A field study showed that employee status seeking explained supervisor impressions of employee supplication and ingratiation, even after controlling for task and contextual performance. Male status‐seekers were also more likely to engage in intimidation. Status‐seeking appears to be an important motive for understanding manipulative self‐presentation at work.

Is Greed a Double-Edged Sword? The Roles of the Need for Social Status and Perceived Distributive Justice in the Relationship Between Greed and Job Performance

“…In terms of the “wanting more” aspect of greed, a higher social status is necessary given that resources are generally distributed according to one’s standing in the social hierarchy of the organization (Highhouse et al, 2016). The findings of the current study provide some empirical evidence that the greedier an individual is, the stronger his or her need for social status, and the higher his or her level of performance.…”

Self‐monitoring personality trait at work: An integrative narrative review and future research directions

“…For example, in a series of studies, Flynn, Reagans, Amanatullah, and Ames (2006) showed correlations ranging between 0.25 and 0.31 with need for social status, and supported the hypothesis that self-monitoring was related to social status as mediated by perceived generosity. Similarly, Highhouse, Brooks, and Wang (2016) found a correlation of 0.28 between self-monitoring and statusseeking. Interestingly, even though self-monitoring is related to status seeking, its relationship with need for approval follows a different pattern.…”

“…Similarly, in a lab study of faking during job interviews, Hogue, Levashina, and Hang (2013) concluded that self-monitoring was related to intentions toward mild, but not severe faking. Highhouse et al (2016) showed that self-monitoring predicted fabricating one's credentials as part of the job search. Finally, self-monitoring was negatively associated with integrity ratings in assessment centers (Leugnerova, Vaculik, & Prochazka, 2016).…”

Do self-monitors experience less emotional exhaustion? Testing the role of supervisor-rated performance and perceived competitive climate

“…Hewlin, 2009) and appear to believe in the images they project of themselves (Snyder, 1987; Gangestad and Snyder, 2000; Kudret et al , 2019). Such an impression management motivation is primarily charged by their need to act appropriately in social situations and seek social status (Highhouse et al , 2016; Kudret et al , 2019).…”