title: When autocratic leaders become an option--uncertainty and self-esteem predict implicit leadership preferences.
abstract: We investigated the impact of uncertainty on leadership preferences and propose that the conjunction of self-esteem level and stability is an important moderator in this regard. Self-threatening uncertainty is aversive and activates the motivation to regain control. People with high and stable self-esteem should be confident of achieving this goal by self-determined amelioration of the situation and should therefore show a stronger preference for democratic leadership under conditions of uncertainty. By contrast, people with low and unstable self-esteem should place their trust and hope in the abilities of powerful others, resulting in a preference for autocratic leadership. Studies 1a and 1b validate explicit and implicit leadership measures and demonstrate a general prodemocratic default attitude under conditions of certainty. Studies 2 and 3 reveal a democratic reaction for individuals with stable high self-esteem and a submissive reaction for individuals with unstable low self-esteem under conditions of uncertainty. In Study 4, this pattern is cancelled out when individuals evaluate leadership styles from a leader instead of a follower perspective.
authors.affiliation: Departmentof Social Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. cschoel@rumms.uni-mannheim.de
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bluemke
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stahlberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001290:Attitude; D003709:Democracy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D011056:Political Systems; D012649:Self Concept; D035501:Uncertainty; D014936:Word Association Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult