Three essays on leadership

ABSTRACT Samuel Bendahan, John Antonakis, Christian Zehnder, and François Pralong The relationship between power and immoral decisions has been discussed extensively by scientists and philosophers alike. Although the exercise of power is ubiquitous in social hierarchies, direct evidence on the impact of power on decision making is scarce. We use laboratory experiments to study whether more power leads to corruption. We manipulate power in the context of leader decision-making authority involving monetary stakes. Prior to the experiment, we also gathered extensive data on psychological and endocrinological individual differences. We find that an increase of power caused leaders to be more likely to engage in destructive, selfish behaviour, although the same subjects did not behave in this manner before their level of power was increased. We also show how individual differences affect the initial level of destructive behaviour and the corruption process. WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE LEFT MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR THE RIGHT: VALUE CONGRUENCE AND CHARISMA IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Samuel Bendahan ABSTRACT Value congruence between leaders and followers is important not only for follower commitment but also as part of the attributions followers make of leaders. I theorized that transformational leadership, which often is referred to as being value driven and having strong moral foundations, has differential effects depending on the values of the follower and whether these values are congruent with what the leader espouses. I designed an experiment to analyze how the political values of followers and leaders can influence followers' attributions regarding leaders. Within the context of political leadership, I found that transformational leaders were seen as more prototypical. Value congruence predicted prototypicality, which was strongly related to follower intentions to vote for the leader. Furthermore, followers with left-wing political values were more influenced by prototypical leaders than were followers with right-wing political values, presumably because of moral overtones of both left-wing ideology and transformational leadership. JUDGING LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL IN AN INTERVIEW: MODERATING EFFECT OF INTERVIEWER INTELLIGENCE ON INTERVIEWER COGNITIVE BUSYNESS, CANDIDATE PERFORMANCE-CUES EFFECTS, AND CANDIDATE ETHNICITY Samuel Bendahan, Philippe Jacquart, and John Antonakis ABSTRACT A large body of literature suggests that interviewers do not accurately rate candidates when using unstructured interviews and evaluation procedures that affect pre-interview expectations; however, the process by which these biases are produced is not well understood. We theorized several reasons for the sub-par performance of the unstructured interview. These factors, which we manipulated in the context of a videotaped interview of a candidate applying for a leadership position, include evaluator cognitive load, pre-interview performance cues regarding the candidate, and the ethnicity of the candidate. We also controlled for the intelligence of the evaluator. We found a significant four-way interaction between the manipulated factors and evaluators' cognitive abilities. The effects of the manipulated factors were all significantly less for evaluators who were high on general intelligence.

The global uranium rush and its Africa frontier. Lessons from Namibia

Uranium mines are the - often forgotten - source of nuclear power. The promotion of nuclear energy as a clean alternative and the projected increase of electricity demand in countries such as China and India, have led to a global “uranium rush”, unseen since the peak of the Cold War. This article studies the formation of the expanding nuclear frontier looking at the interaction between the global uranium metabolism, industrial dynamics and local ecologies of resistance using Namibia as a case-study. Namibia, the world´s fourth largest producer of uranium, stands at the frontier of this rush with sixty-six recently granted prospecting licenses that could turn into mines, compared to only three currently operating mines. We focus on three generic attributes that help to explain the emergence and intensity of resistance by local communities to uranium mining: the ecology and geography of the resource; the degree and type of political and economic marginalization of the community; and crucially, the connection and integration of local concerns with broader social movements and political demands. We show with the use of empirical material how these factors play out differently in five Namibian communities that have been, or stand to be, affected by uranium mining, and explain how local ecologies of resistance shape the global uranium rush.

Achievements of schistosomiasis control in China

The control of schistosomiasis has been spectacularly successful in terms of controlling endemicity and severity of the disease during the last 50 years. It can be categorized into two stages. From 1955 through 1980, the transmission-control strategy had been widely and successfully carried out. By the end of 1980, the epidemic of schistosomiasis was successfully circumscribed in certain core regions including areas at the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River and some mountainous areas in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where control of schistosomiasis had been demonstrated to be very difficult to be sustained. Therefore, since 1980, schistosomiasis control in China has been modified to employ a stepwise strategy, based on which morbidity control has been given priorities and if possible transmission control has been pursued. However, since snail-ridden areas remain unchanged so far, reinfections occur frequently. This necessitates a maintenance phase to consolidate the achievements in the control of schistosomiasis. In the mean time, we are challenged with some environmental, social and economical changes in terms of controlling schistosomiasis. Successfully controlling schistosomiasis in China is still a long-term task but will be achieved without doubt along with the economic development and the promotion of living and cultural standard of people.

La dimensió política de la construcció social del Programari Lliure

Aquest estudi es presenta com una aproximació al fenomen del Programari Lliure des de la seva vessant política. Lluny de tractar-se d'una alternativa tecnològica la naturalesa de la qual seria explicable en termes exclusivament tècnics - la qual cosa no faria sinó atribuir-li una presumpta neutralitat tecnològica -, ací assumim que tota tecnologia s'inscriu en un procés de construcció social en el que incideixen factors de tipus social, econòmic, polític i/o moral que rebasen allò merament tècnic. Creguem que en el cas del Programari Lliure es donen cita tots aquests factors, sent el plànol polític el que adquireix un especial protagonisme en dit procés de construcció i que mereix de tractament aïllat. D'aquesta manera, la semàntica de allò polític serà examinada en les seves diferents accepcions a través de dos plànols complementaris. Per una banda, rastrejant els fonaments culturals que subjauen al Programari Lliure i les seves possibles concomitàncies de contingut polític. D'altra, descrivint la praxis actual d'actors heterogenis (corporacions, governs, associacions d'usuaris,...) desenvolupada en un marc global d'interacció col·lectiva, que es revisteix igualment, producte de la confrontació estratègica d'interpretacions i discursos particulars sobre el mateix, d'un caràcter indubtablement polític.

Social influences on fertility : a comparative mixed methods study in eastern and western Germany

This article uses a mixed methods design to investigate the effects of social influence on family formation in a sample of eastern and western German young adults at an early stage of their family formation. Theoretical propositions on the importance of informal interaction for fertility and family behavior are still rarely supported by systematic empirical evidence. Major problems are the correct identification of salient relationships and the comparability of social networks across population subgroups. This article addresses the two issues through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. In-depth interviewing, network charts, and network grids are used to map individual personal relationships and their influence on family formation decisions. In addition, an analysis of friendship dyads is provided.

La integració de persones amb discapacitats en el lleure. Una resposta educativa i social : les colònies integradores

Aquest vol ser un treball que, emmarcat dins l'esfera del lleure, centri la seva atenció en la interrelació dels vèrtexs d'un triangle que formen els següents components: un grup d'infants i d'adolescents, un grup de monitors i unes activitats de lleure. Els objectius van dirigits als nens i als monitors, perquè aquesta empresa la construeixen entre tots els que hi prenen part. La intervenció psicopedagògica vol aconseguir que la interacció d'aquests elements, en aquest context, possibiliti que tots els nens assoleixin uns objectius educatius i socials determinats. No es tracta d'un plantejament descriptiu dels tipus d'aprenentatge que tenen lloc a la colònia, alguns tan evidents com l'aprenentatge per imitació de models o l'aprenentatge vicari per a l'aprenentatge social d'actituds i de comportaments, sinó d'assessorar els monitors sobre com han d'intervenir en les relacions que s'estableixen en el si de la colònia per tal d'arribar a aconseguir els canvis en els comportaments i en les actituds.

Simultaneous estimation of indirect and interaction effects using structural equation models

Interaction effects are usually modeled by means of moderated regression analysis. Structural equation models with non-linear constraints make it possible to estimate interaction effects while correcting formeasurement error. From the various specifications, Jöreskog and Yang's(1996, 1998), likely the most parsimonious, has been chosen and further simplified. Up to now, only direct effects have been specified, thus wasting much of the capability of the structural equation approach. This paper presents and discusses an extension of Jöreskog and Yang's specification that can handle direct, indirect and interaction effects simultaneously. The model is illustrated by a study of the effects of an interactive style of use of budgets on both company innovation and performance

Correcting Measurement Error Bias in Interaction Models with Small Samples

Several methods have been suggested to estimate non-linear models with interaction terms in the presence of measurement error. Structural equation models eliminate measurement error bias, but require large samples. Ordinary least squares regression on summated scales, regression on factor scores and partial least squares are appropriate for small samples but do not correct measurement error bias. Two stage least squares regression does correct measurement error bias but the results strongly depend on the instrumental variable choice. This article discusses the old disattenuated regression method as an alternative for correcting measurement error in small samples. The method is extended to the case of interaction terms and is illustrated on a model that examines the interaction effect of innovation and style of use of budgets on business performance. Alternative reliability estimates that can be used to disattenuate the estimates are discussed. A comparison is made with the alternative methods. Methods that do not correct for measurement error bias perform very similarly and considerably worse than disattenuated regression

Escuela de gestión social Creciendo Juntos

Reflexió i recopilació de les experiències viscudes i dels aprenentatges adquirits durant les pràctiques realitzades a la comunitat educativa “Creciendo Juntos” a Moreno, dintre de la província de Buenos Aires, a l’Argentina

La recherche biomédicale en Suisse : espace social, discours et pratiques

Cette étude porte sur la recherche biomédicale en Suisse dans une perspective interprétative. Elle s'intéresse à l'usage que font les acteurs scientifiques et institutionnels de la catégorie «biomédical», à la signification qu'ils en donnent et aux processus de structuration de la recherche biomédicale autour de ces enjeux de catégorisation. Nous avons formulé l'hypothèse que le «biomédical» pouvait être considéré comme un label, à savoir une stratégie discursive de positionnement des acteurs, ou pouvait constituer un champ, à savoir un espace social de recherche fortement structuré. Pour pouvoir vérifier la validité de ces hypothèses, trois perspectives analytiques ont été retenues: topographie, discours et pratiques. Dans un premier temps, nous avons établi une topographie de la recherche biomédicale en repérant les acteurs (et leur appartenance disciplinaire) et les institutions qui s'associent au terme «biomédical», que ce soit pour décrire des institutions ou des projets de recherche. Les résultats de cette analyse offrent une première approximation d'un espace de la recherche en donnant une image d'un domaine peu unifié. Ainsi, l'usage de la catégorie «biomédical» dans les projets des chercheurs n'est pas le fait des seuls médecins et biologistes, mais également de représentants d'autres disciplines. La physique, la chimie et les sciences de l'ingénieur occupent ainsi également une place très importante dans cet espace de recherche. Puis, dans une perspective discursive, nous avons analysé le «biomédical» non seulement comme un label, mais également comme un objet-frontière permettant d'articuler différentes significations, de produire du sens là où des univers de recherche pourraient s'opposer, ou à coordonner des politiques qui ne l'étaient pas. L'analyse des différentes définitions du «biomédical» nous a confirmé l'existence d'un espace social marqué par une grande diversité disciplinaire, toutefois articulé autour d'un coeur médical et, plus particulièrement, d'une application médicale (potentielle ou actuelle). De plus, il ne semble pas y avoir de profondes luttes pour l'établissement de limites claires au «biomédical». Finalement, nous avons étudié les différentes activités de la production des savoirs (carrières, financement, collaboration, publication, etc.). Cette analyse a permis de comprendre que la diversité des définitions et des significations que les acteurs attribuent à la catégorie «biomédical» a aussi un ancrage dans la matérialité des réseaux sociotechniques dans lesquels les chercheurs s'inscrivent. Ces éléments confirment l'idée d'une fragmentation et d'une hétérogénéité de l'espace de la recherche biomédicale. En dépit de cette fragmentation, nous avons également montré que différentes mesures et instruments d'action publique visant à organiser et réguler les pratiques des chercheurs sont mis en oeuvre. Néanmoins et paradoxalement, la recherche biomédicale ne constitue pas pour autant un objet de politique scientifique abordé par les autorités politiques, en tous les cas pas sous l'angle de la catégorie «biomédical». Ces différents niveaux d'analyse ont permis d'arriver à la conclusion que la catégorie «biomédical» n'est pas suffisamment institutionnalisée et que le degré d'interaction entre l'ensemble des chercheurs qui en font usage est trop faible pour que l'on puisse considérer le «biomédical» comme un espace social fortement organisé et structuré, à savoir un champ de la recherche biomédicale. Cela est principalement lié au fait que les acteurs ne partagent pas les mêmes définitions de ce qu'est (ou devrait être) le «biomédical», que leurs pratiques de recherche s'inscrivent dans des univers relativement séparés, et que cette diversité ne donne pas lieu à de fortes luttes pour l'imposition d'une définition légitime ou de normes d'excellence scientifiques dominantes. Par contre, les analyses ont permis de confirmer la validité du «biomédical» comme label, puisque les acteurs se servent de cette catégorie pour valoriser leurs pratiques de recherche et se positionner, même si d'autres notions ont émergé ces dernières années («translationnel», «biotech», «medtech», médecine personnalisée, etc.). On peut, in fine, considérer le «biomédical» comme un probable langage commun («objet-frontière») reposant tant sur la scientificisation du médical que sur la médicalisation des sciences («de base» et «techniques »), visant à améliorer les conditions de possibilité d'un dialogue fructueux entre chercheurs fondamentaux et cliniciens.

The combination of social and personal contexts affects dominance hierarchy development in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

Many animals that live in groups maintain competitive relationships, yet avoid continual fighting, by forming dominance hierarchies. We compare predictions of stochastic, individual-based models with empirical experimental evidence using shore crabs to test competing hypotheses regarding hierarchy development. The models test (1) what information individuals use when deciding to fight or retreat, (2) how past experience affects current resource-holding potential, and (3) how individuals deal with changes to the social environment. First, we conclude that crabs assess only their own state and not their opponent's when deciding to fight or retreat. Second, willingness to enter, and performance in, aggressive contests are influenced by previous contest outcomes. Winning increases the likelihood of both fighting and winning future interactions, while losing has the opposite effect. Third, when groups with established dominance hierarchies dissolve and new groups form, individuals reassess their ranks, showing no memory of previous rank or group affiliation. With every change in group composition, individuals fight for their new ranks. This iterative process carries over as groups dissolve and form, which has important implications for the relationship between ability and hierarchy rank. We conclude that dominance hierarchies emerge through an interaction of individual and social factors, and discuss these findings in terms of an underlying mechanism. Overall, our results are consistent with crabs using a cumulative assessment strategy iterated across changes in group composition, in which aggression is constrained by an absolute threshold in energy spent and damage received while fighting.

Campus 2.0: disseny d’una xarxa social per escoles

Disseny i desenvolupament d'una aplicació web de xarxa social orientada a estudiants i professors d'una escola o institució educativa. Una eina que pretén millorar la interacció entre alumnes i professors mitjançant un mateix espai concurrent i virtual on poder comunicar-se i compartir opinions.