Abstract:

Power and status have different effects on self-interested behavior. Power can diminish cognitive perspective-taking, thus making the individual concerned more about their own interests; status can enhance cognitive perspective-taking, thus impelling the individual to speculate others' thoughts and feelings as well as consider others' interests. However, the effects of power and status on self-interested behavior through cognitive perspective-taking may be moderated by situational properties. Future research should be done to validate these relations and explanations, to explore the mediating role of empathy concern, as well as the moderating variables in the influence of power and status on cognitive perspective-taking; to explore the difference of self-interested behavior of those who own status and power when treating others in the ingroup and outgroup; to investigate the influence of interactive effects of power and status on self-interested behavior.

Key words: power, status, self-interested behavior, cognitive perspective-taking