Doing many things at a time: Lack of power decreases the ability to multitask. (6th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cai, Ran Alice; Guinote, Ana
• Is Part Of: British journal of social psychology. Volume 56:Part 3(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 475
• Page End: 492
• Publication Date: 2017-03-06
• Subjects: power -- multitasking -- dual‐tasking -- task‐switching -- goal pursuit; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6665

Abstract

Abstract : Three studies investigated the effects of power on the ability to pursue multiple, concomitant goals, also known as multitasking. It was predicted that powerless participants will show lower multitasking ability than control and powerful participants. Study 1 focused on self‐reported ability to multitask in a sample of executives and subordinate employees. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the ability to dual‐task and to switch between tasks, respectively, using dual‐task and task‐switching paradigms. Across the studies, powerless individuals were less able to effectively multitask compared with control and powerful participants, suggesting that the detrimental effects of lack of power extend beyond single‐task environments, shown in past research, into multitasking environments. Underlying mechanisms are discussed.