The dominance behavioral system and manic temperament: Motivation for dominance, self-perceptions of power, and socially dominant behaviors

Abstract

The dominance behavioral system has been conceptualized as a biologically based system comprising motivation to achieve social power and self-perceptions of power. Biological, behavioral, and social correlates of dominance motivation and self-perceived power have been related to a range of psychopathological tendencies. Preliminary evidence suggests that mania and risk for mania (manic temperament) relate to the dominance system. Method Four studies examine whether manic temperament, measured with the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS), is related to elevations in dominance motivation, self-perceptions of power, and engagement in socially dominant behavior across multiple measures. In Study 1, the HPS correlated with measures of dominance motivation and the pursuit of extrinsically-oriented ambitions for fame and wealth among 454 undergraduates. In Study 2, the HPS correlated with perceptions of power and extrinsically-oriented lifetime ambitions among 780 undergraduates. In Study 3, the HPS was related to trait-like tendencies to experience hubristic (dominance-related) pride, as well as dominance motivation and pursuit of extrinsically-oriented ambitions. In Study 4, we developed the Socially Dominant Behavior Scale to capture behaviors reflecting high power. The scale correlated highly with the HPS among 514 undergraduates. Limitations The studies rely on self-ratings of manic temperament and dominance constructs, and findings have not yet been generalized to a clinical sample. Conclusions Taken together, results support the hypothesis that manic temperament is related to a focus on achieving social dominance, ambitions related to achieving social recognition, perceptions of having achieved power, tendencies to experience dominance-related pride, and engagement in social behaviors consistent with this elevated sense of power.

Emotion-relevant impulsivity predicts sustained anger and aggression after remission in bipolar I disorder

“…The scale consists of 16 true-false items. The scale has been found to correlate with risk for mania (Johnson and Carver, 2012;Tang-Smith et al, 2014). Alpha for this sample was .81.…”

The dominance behavioral system and psychopathology: Evidence from self-report, observational, and biological studies.

“…The investment in extrinsically-oriented goals does not appear to be an artifact of symptoms, in that the profile remained present after controlling for subsyndromal manic symptoms and has been found to predict the onset of mania (Alloy et al, in press). Heightened investment in highly ambitious extrinsic goals also has been documented across seven samples of persons at risk for bipolar disorder (Carver & Johnson, 2009; Gruber & Johnson, 2009; Johnson & Carver, 2006; Johnson et al, 2011). Observational studies suggest that risk for mania is also related to dominance behavior, as assessed by self and peer ratings (Taylor & Mansell, 2008).…”

“…As shown in Table 4, people diagnosed with bipolar disorder and those at risk for the disorder also appear to endorse high self-perceptions of power on self-report measures (Gilbert, McEwan, Mitra, et al, 2009; Johnson et al, 2011). Whereas these studies suggest that elevated self-perceptions of power can be documented even outside of episode, theorists have suggested that self-perceptions of power may be particularly inflated during manic episodes.…”

Associations between circadian rhythm instability, appraisal style and mood in bipolar disorder

“…Participants who did not complete any of the core measures were excluded. In line with previous studies (Johnson and Carver, 2012;Johnson and Jones, 2009;Giovanelli et al, 2013), four 'catch items' were included in the survey. Data sets which contained at least one incorrect response to a catch item were excluded.…”