How hierarchy shapes our emotional lives: effects of power and status on emotional experience, expression, and responsiveness

Abstract

Hierarchy is a defining characteristic of social life that profoundly shapes human psychology. Here, we draw attention to the pervasive impact of social rank on emotional processes. We review the effects of rank (power and status) on emotional experience, expression, and responsiveness. Our review indicates that (1) lower-ranking individuals experience more negative emotions, whereas higher-ranking individuals experience more positive emotions; (2) lower-ranking individuals adapt their emotional expressions to the social context, whereas higher-ranking individuals express their feelings more freely; (3) lower-ranking individuals accurately perceive and respond to the emotional expressions of others, whereas higher-ranking individuals do so only when others' emotions are self-relevant. Finally, (4) power and status have very similar effects on emotional processes, suggesting opportunities for theoretical integration.