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Share Your Pride: How Expressing Pride in the Self and Others Heightens the Perception of Agentic and Communal Characteristics

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Abstract

We reevaluate the proposition that pride expressions relate positively to ascriptions of agency and negatively to communality by studying self-referential pride and vicarious pride in others. While both signal a positive outcome, they differ in attributing it to one’s own or others’ efforts. Based on these differential attributions, we assume that the asymmetric pattern found for pride pertains to self-referential pride, whereas pride in others relates positively to communal dimensions and could even reverse the negative effect of self-referential pride. We examined expressions of self-referential and vicarious pride in two experiments (N1 = 286, N2 = 309) and a field study (N3 = 210) in peer and leadership contexts. We found pride in the self to relate positively (and independently from expressions of pride in others) to ascribed agency and autocratic leadership for peers, but only to the latter for leaders. For peers, pride in others was found to relate positively with communality and democratic leadership, and could even reverse negative effects of pride in the self. For leaders, the results primarily showed a negative relationship between pride in the self and both communality and democratic leadership. Our results provide first evidence that vicarious pride affects outcomes differently than self-referential pride, and integrate expressers’ power position as a critical moderator. Therein, we contribute to emotion research in outlining boundary conditions for the asymmetrical effects of expressing pride, thus helping individuals to anticipate the effects of self-referential and vicarious pride in peer and leadership contexts.

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Correspondence to Lisa Ritzenhöfer.

Appendix

Appendix

Study 1 Vignette

The current semester offers a course for scientific writing. Students in this course are graded individually. In addition, students can win attractive monetary prizes that are awarded based on the results of teamwork. These are given to the student teams whose performance is ranked among the top 10% of the whole course. Each working team is composed of two students. Students are allowed to select their work teams independently and can, therefore, work with a fellow student whom they know and respect.

Person A and person B decide to work together. After the first course meeting, person A and person B coordinate the writing of their report for the team. Both have separate sections to write for their joint report. They also read each other’s sections and give each other feedback. To finalize the report, they meet and jointly rework the report to improve the transitions between the sections and fine-tune the overall writing.

Person A and person B receive a very good evaluation for their joint research report. They are even awarded one of the attractive monetary prizes.

[Pride in the other] When the grades and prizes are announced, person A is very proud of the contribution of person B. When discussing the results afterwards, person A says how proud they are of person B’s contribution after the very good evaluation of the report.

[Pride in the self] When the grades and prizes are announced, person A is very proud of their own contribution. When discussing the results afterwards, person A says how proud they are of their own contribution after the very good evaluation of the report.

[Pride in the self and the other] When the grades and prizes are announced, person A is very proud of their own contribution and the contribution of person B. When discussing the results afterwards, person A says how proud they are of their own contribution and person B’s contribution after the very good evaluation of the report.

[Neutral condition] When the grades and prizes are announced, person A is not very emotional. When discussing the results afterwards, person A says nothing about their feelings after the very good evaluation of the report.

Study 2 Vignette

Susanne/Christoph Roth has worked for the advertising agency New Horizon for three years and works there as a team leader. As a team leader, she/he is responsible for product marketing. She/he is an experienced team leader to whom communication with her/his team is very important. To satisfy clients, she/he pays attention to every detail and keeps up with the latest trends in the field.

This week, Susanne/Christoph and her/his team had a very important meeting with a client to present a new proposal for an ad campaign. The client had launched a public call for tenders, so New Horizons was competing for the job with several other agencies. In their agency, Susanne/Christoph and her/his team were solely responsible for the design and presentation of the campaign and had worked toward the presentation for weeks.

Susanne’s/Christoph’s task was to coordinate the team and hold the final presentation for the client. The team members’ task was to independently create the concept for the presentation and send it to Susanne/Christoph. All of those involved knew that getting this job would enhance the company’s reputation tremendously, as the client is among the most demanding in the industry. The day after the presentation, Susanne/Christoph announces the result during a team meeting: The client was convinced by the campaign and has given the job to New Horizons.

[Pride in followers] Susanne/Christoph stands in front of the team with chin proudly raised and a slight smile. She/he reports on her/his presentation with the client. She/he also discusses the presentation concept of the team and emphasizes that she/he is very proud of the performance of each individual team member. At the end of the meeting, Susanne/Christoph talks to each of her/his team members. She/he emphasizes once again that she/he is very proud of the team.

[Pride in the leader] Susanne/Christoph stands in front of the team with chin proudly raised and a slight smile. She/he reports on her/his presentation with the client and says she/he is very proud of her/his performance. She/he also discusses the presentation concept of the team. At the end of the meeting, Susanne/Christoph talks to each of her/his team members. She/he emphasizes once again that she/he is very proud of herself/himself.

[Pride in the leader and the followers] Susanne/Christoph stands in front of the team with chin proudly raised and a slight smile. She/he reports on her/his presentation with the client and says she/he is very proud of her/his performance. She/he also discusses the presentation concept of the team and emphasizes that she/he is very proud of the performance of each individual team member. At the end of the meeting, Susanne/Christoph talks to each of her/his team members. She/he emphasizes once again that she/he is very proud of herself/himself and the team.

[Neutral condition] She/he reports on her/his presentation with the client. She/he also discusses the presentation concept of the team. At the end of the meeting, Susanne/Christoph again objectively talks to each of her/his team members.

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Ritzenhöfer, L., Brosi, P. & Welpe, I.M. Share Your Pride: How Expressing Pride in the Self and Others Heightens the Perception of Agentic and Communal Characteristics. J Bus Psychol 34, 847–863 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9595-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9595-0

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