Understanding power change: The role of assimilation and contrast in the effect of structural power change on prosocial behavior

Abstract

Social power is inherently dynamic, characterized by frequent shifts throughout individuals’ careers. This paper explores the effects of these structural power shifts—specifically power gain and power loss—on individuals' psychological sense of power and the prosocial consequences of holding power. Integrating temporal comparison theory with social power research, we demonstrate that structural power changes influence prosocial behavior beyond immediate power levels. Individuals' reactions to power change depends on their engagement in contrast versus assimilation judgments. Specifically, power loss diminishes individuals' psychological sense of power in assimilation judgements, while it enhances it in contrast judgments. Conversely, the effects of power gain on psychological sense of power are more nuanced. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how power change influence prosocial behavior, emphasizing the role of temporal comparisons in shaping responses to power change. This research offers theoretical insights into the complexities of power change and suggests implications for organizational strategies aimed at effectively managing and leveraging power transitions.