Date of Award

1-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department/Program

Psychology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Jennifer Bragger

Committee Member

Valerie Sessa

Committee Member

Daniel Simonet

Abstract

Drath’s (2001) meta-theory of leadership posits individuals’ developmental levels (dependent, interdependent, inter-independent) will influence their constructions of leadership (.Personal Dominance, Interpersonal Influence, Relational Dialogue) with advanced development subsuming and expanding less complex principles. While this meta-theory has been influential in practice, little research has investigated its propositions. For this thesis, a policy-capturing methodology with 23 leadership vignettes was used to examine (a) if individuals have different constructions of leadership, b) whether a crisis context will influence leadership perceptions, and (c) the effects of demographic and experiential factors on endorsement of varying leadership principles. Results suggest individuals vary in leadership constructions, with about a third being substantially less likely to endorse Relational Dialogue as leadership relative to Personal Dominance or Interpersonal Influence. No effects for demographics or leadership experience on perceptions of leadership were found.

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Psychology Commons

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