Individual Differences in Need for Cognition and Decision-Making Competence Among Leaders

Personality and Individual Differences, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 274-278, August 2010

5 Pages Posted: 21 Dec 2011

See all articles by Jennifer Lerner

Jennifer Lerner

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Jessica J. Carnevale

Ohio State University (OSU); SUNY Purchase College

Yoel Inbar

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Date Written: August 6, 2010

Abstract

When making decisions, people sometimes deviate from normative standards. While such deviations may appear to be alarmingly common, examining individual differences may reveal a more nuanced picture. Specifically, the personality factor of need for cognition (i.e., the extent to which people engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activities; Cacioppo & Petty, 1982) may moderate decision makers’ susceptibility to bias, as could personality factors associated with being a leader. As part of a large-scale assessment of high-level leaders, participants completed a battery of decision-making competence and personality scales. Leaders who scored higher on need for cognition performed better on two of four components of a decision-making competence measure: framing and honoring sunk costs. In addition, the leader sample performed better than published controls. Thus, both individual differences in need for cognition and leadership experience moderate susceptibility to decision biases. Implications for broader theories of individual differences and bias are discussed.

Keywords: Leadership, Need for cognition, Decision-making

Suggested Citation

Lerner, Jennifer and Carnevale, Jessica J. and Carnevale, Jessica J. and Inbar, Yoel, Individual Differences in Need for Cognition and Decision-Making Competence Among Leaders (August 6, 2010). Personality and Individual Differences, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 274-278, August 2010 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1953330

Jennifer Lerner (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-9962 (Phone)

Jessica J. Carnevale

Ohio State University (OSU) ( email )

Blankenship Hall-2010
901 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, OH OH 43210
United States

SUNY Purchase College ( email )

735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
United States

Yoel Inbar

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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