Group Effectiveness as a Function of Leader Intelligent Use of Emotional Displays

Date of Graduation

Spring 2007

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Robert Jones

Abstract

This study investigated whether leader management of emotional displays affects group performance. Regulation of emotional displays was hypothesized to affect group affect, cohesion and trust. Regulated emotional displays that were most likely to influence these outcomes include stress, anger, and fear. Leaders worked with groups of two to three members to create strategies for solving university parking problems. Group members reported emotions observed in leaders and emotions they personally experienced as well as group cohesion and trust. Leaders reported emotions felt and suppressed as well as social intelligence and alexithymia. Data was collected from 61 groups. Results supported hypotheses about leader-to-member emotional contagion. Leader alexithymia was positively related to group cohesion and trust, which was opposite of the direction predicted. The relationship between leader alexithymia and group cohesion and trust was fully mediated by suppression effects.

Keywords

leader, social intelligence, emotional intelligence, alexithymia, emotional contagion, emotive displays

Subject Categories

Psychology

Copyright

© Jared J. Russo

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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