Abstract
BackgroundTheory and research suggest that social dominance is important for multiple forms of psychopathology, and yet few studies have considered multiple dimensions of psychopathology simultaneously, and relatively few have used well-validated behavioral indices.MethodAmong 81 undergraduates, we used a well-validated experimental approach of assigning participants to a leadership or subordinate position, and we examined how self-rated severity of depression, social anxiety, manic tendencies, and psychopathy relate to psychophysiological and affective reactivity to this role.ResultsConsistent with hypotheses, manic symptoms related to more discomfort in the subordinate role compared to the leadership role, as evidenced by more decline in positive affect, more discomfort, and a larger RSA decline, while depression symptoms related to a more positive response to the subordinate role than the leadership role, including more positive affect and more comfort in the assigned role. Social anxiety was related to discomfort regardless of the assigned role, and those with higher psychopathy symptoms did not show differential response to assigned roles.LimitationsFindings are limited by the mild symptom levels and absence of hormonal data.ConclusionsFindings provide novel transdiagnostic evidence for the importance of social dominance to differentiate diverse forms of psychopathology.
Highlights
Organisms who live in groups naturally create and maintain social hierarchies [1, 2]
Consistent with hypotheses, manic symptoms related to more discomfort in the subordinate role compared to the leadership role, as evidenced by more decline in positive affect, more discomfort, and a larger respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) decline, while depression symptoms related to a more positive response to the subordinate role than the leadership role, including more positive affect and more comfort in the assigned role
We focus on three affective syndromes—mania, depression, and social anxiety, as well as one facet of psychopathy
Summary
Organisms who live in groups naturally create and maintain social hierarchies [1, 2]. The adaptive, biologically-based processes involved in hierarchy have been a rich focus of work across anthropology, sociology, ethology, management, and psychology [3]. These literatures have differentiated multiple dimensions involved in the maintenance and effects of hierarchy, including the desire for social rank (dominance motivation), the behavioral strategies used to pursue social rank, behavioral expressions of dominance and subordination, and social rank (which is sometimes referred to as power). Theory and research suggest that social dominance is important for multiple forms of psychopathology, and yet few studies have considered multiple dimensions of psychopathology simultaneously, and relatively few have used well-validated behavioral indices
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