Cognitive mechanisms mediating the impact of implicit theories of leader behavior on leader behavior ratings

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that implicit theories of leader behavior can significantly influence raters' responses on leader behavior rating questionnaires. The purpose of the present study was to explore the cognitive mechanisms mediating this influence. Subjects watched a videotape of a problem-solving group and later rated the group leader's behavior. They were told either before or after seeing the tape that this group had either succeeded or failed at the task it was performing. The performance manipulation had a significant impact on the leader behavior ratings. The timing of that manipulation, however, did not. These results are interpreted as evidence that implicit theories of leader behavior may have their impact on conventional leader behavior ratings primarily through mechanisms operating at the time the raters fill out the leader behavior questionnaire. The implications of these results for developing strategies to overcome the confounding influence of implicit theories on leader behavior ratings are discussed.