Hierarchy stability moderates the effect of status on stress and performance in humans
Hierarchy stability moderates the effect of status on stress and performance in humans
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DOI：
10.1073/pnas.1609811114
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发表时间：
2017-01-03
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
Mehta, Pranjal H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Knight, Erik L.;Mehta, Pranjal H.
在许多物种中，较高的社会地位会降低压力反应，但在等级不稳定的时期，地位的压力缓冲效应可能会消失甚至逆转。在对这一假设的实验测试中，118名参与者（57.3%为女性）被随机分配到一个稳定或不稳定的等级制度中的高或低地位职位，然后暴露于社会评价压力源（模拟工作面试）。在一个稳定的层次结构中的高地位缓冲了压力反应，提高了面试表现，但在一个不稳定的层次结构中的高地位促进了压力反应，并没有导致更好的表现。这种影响的一般模式在对压力源的内分泌（皮质醇和睾酮），心理（控制感）和行为（能力，支配地位和温暖）反应中观察到。地位和等级稳定性对面试表现的联合影响可以通过控制感和睾酮反应来解释。更大的控制感预测增强面试表现，而增加睾酮反应预测更差的性能。这些结果提供了直接的因果关系证据，即只有当社会等级稳定时，高地位才能为减轻压力和表现带来适应性益处。当等级制度不稳定时，高地位实际上会加剧压力反应。
High social status reduces stress responses in numerous species, but the stress-buffering effect of status may dissipate or even reverse during times of hierarchical instability. In an experimental test of this hypothesis, 118 participants (57.3% female) were randomly assigned to a high-or low-status position in a stable or unstable hierarchy and were then exposed to a social-evaluative stressor (a mock job interview). High status in a stable hierarchy buffered stress responses and improved interview performance, but high status in an unstable hierarchy boosted stress responses and did not lead to better performance. This general pattern of effects was observed across endocrine (cortisol and testosterone), psychological (feeling in control), and behavioral (competence, dominance, and warmth) responses to the stressor. The joint influence of status and hierarchy stability on interview performance was explained by feelings of control and testosterone reactivity. Greater feelings of control predicted enhanced interview performance, whereas increased testosterone reactivity predicted worse performance. These results provide direct causal evidence that high status confers adaptive benefits for stress reduction and performance only when the social hierarchy is stable. When the hierarchy is unstable, high status actually exacerbates stress responses.