don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

I'm sure you've seen NBA, NFL and even college basketball or football players "celebrate" a dunk, sack or wicked hit with graceless displays of self-aggrandizement. Among the grotesque gestures we've seen of this nature are chest thumping, dances, screams in the face of fallen opponents and other dominance displays designed to call attention to themselves for demonstrating an "Alpha moment." These acts are similar to what scientists have observed in nature and what we often find entertaining when exhibited by large, hairy creatures with huge teeth and claws on "Animal Planet" or old "Tarzan" movies.

Might there be more to these human forms of dominance than mindless gloating? Is there any reason why the rest of us, the gentle folks like you and me who do compete in the NBA, NFL or for Southwest Gladiator University, might want to act out a bit more like this, on occasions?

Yes, according to some social scientists who study workplace dynamics. A recent (March 2007) Stanford Graduate School of Business article ("Is Chest Beating as Good for People as It Is for Primates?") suggests such displays might "have a valuable place in negotiating status, cooperation and paths to power."

Who would have guessed?

According to Lara Tiedens, a Stanford professor of organizational behavior, dominance displays (though not exactly as exhibited by pro and college gloaters) are linked to status acquisition. As is the case in animal societies, dominance behaviors can promote cooperation and facilitate expeditious decision-making, the distribution of power and the settlement of claims on resources.

Instead of the chest thumping seen in chimpanzees, great apes and certain sporting contests, human dominance behaviors at the workplace take the form of "inflated attempts to use body size and space to look larger and more powerful." Sounds hilarious, don't you think? Well, studies by the Stanford organizational experts strongly suggest that how we "take up space" matters. Some body language clearly conveys dominance more than others, and there are reasons to suspect that those who employ such behaviors tend to get ahead.

If you want to appear to be more compelling and thus improve your prospects for getting what you want, in ways independent of your lowly position (if your position IS lowly), consider adopting these visual and verbal clues. All, according to the Stanford investigators, will add to your ability to convey dominance.

• Open posture and the appearance of height.
  
  
• Willingness to gaze directly at others, speak loudly in a deep or low voice, and interrupt frequently.
  
  
• Use of strong, hard gestures.
  
  
• Standing or leaning in close, reducing interpersonal space.

Of course, some of your friends might find your company less enjoyable, but wouldn't you rather dominate than be loved? Maybe not.

According to Professor Tiedens, the career prospects for subliminal chest thumpers is pretty good, as this Alpha persona facilitates certain interpersonal benefits. Because the forms and gestures communicate confidence, dominant types tend to appear smarter, more competent, better at making decisions and basically "go-to" people. Such a pattern in most worksite cultures seems to earn more status and influence.

Some of these findings raise delicate gender issues. The study authors note, "men and women must act in subtly different ways to achieve the same end." That is not surprising -- women do not seem as likely to gloat or bellow, or as accomplished at chest-thumping. Unlike men, they are less likely to perform these displays while appearing intelligent, cool, dignified and sophisticated.

So, does this study really suggest that the path to more power, prestige, rewards and status is to act like a chimp, or otherwise to display subtle and appropriate dominance attitudes and behaviors? Is this the way to succeed in business without really working so hard, as it always has been in the jungle and today seems to work in the NBA/NFL and college basketball and football?

I don't believe it. I'd still bet on charm and panache, competence and the capacity to make good decisions. An embrace of common decencies (integrity, truthfulness, reliability, for instance) and a display of effective relationship skills, also seem more promising than dominance displays.

Interestingly, the Stanford investigators also suggested that dominance comes with a price. "Dominating people are perceived as less nice, less likeable and less warm." Plus, the Stanford data revealed that when two or more dominator-types have to battle it out in the same work team, highly unproductive workplace conflicts may ensue.

So, be nice, cooperative, competent and otherwise as pleasant and authentic as you can manage, and chances are you'll do just fine. No need to thump your chest or invade other peoples' space. Forget about all that boorish, upwardly mobile stuff, except maybe to be amused by it when you see in on display. Even if it helps, and you can't be sure it does, who wants to be such a lout? Behave with style and class and look on the bright side. Things will always turn out for the best.

Be well.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MEANING DOMAIN under the skill area of relationships. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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