I Know a Leader When I See One: Implicit Leadership Theories and Attachment Styles

Abstract

In this study we propose and argue that attachment styles are an important predictor of leader attribute preferences. Leader-follower relationships are based on affective bonds, i.e. feelings of attachment, which guide individuals toward previously learnt and experienced behavioral scripts and interaction patters, stored as one’s implicit leadership traits (ILTs). In two studies we show that attachment orientations influence individuals’ preferences for specific ideal leader attributes. We focus in particular on the degree of leader autonomy, i.e. to which degree individuals with different attachment orientations differ in preferring a highly autonomous and self-reliant leader. In Study 1 we find anxious attachment to be negatively related to an autonomous leader dimension. Limited by the correlational design of Study 1, we conduct an additional experimental study (Study 2) using a description of a highly autonomous versus a non-autonomous leader. We find that individuals with an anxious attachment orientation evaluate the non- autonomous leader higher on perceived leader competence. On the other hand, highly avoidant attached individuals rate autonomous leaders higher on perceived leader competence than low avoidant attached individuals. Results remained unchanged after introducing known control variables such as personality dimensions and demographics. Attachment orientations therefore serve as important predictors of individuals’ preference for certain leader attributes, above and beyond personality dimensions or demographics. We argue for an increased research focus on attachment styles as individual differences in the study and interpretation of leadership attributes and behavior.