Under the Influence

How power, status, and social hierarchy shape us.
by Michael W. Kraus, Ph.D.

More Teammates or Less Teammates?

In my brief time in research I have written journal articles authored by as few as two people and as many as six people. Many of those authors have been faculty members (senior researchers who provided me with valuable mentoring), colleagues (graduate students with similar experience and training), and trainees (early researchers learning the research process from me and others). Read More

Power Moves: Lessons From AMC's Mad Men

When Mad Men started it's fifth season on AMC, I was treated to a pretty good laugh when I was alerted to the hashtag #draping. Read More

A Game of Thrones: Lessons About Status

Attaining Status Can Be Like "A Game of Thrones." In this post I discuss how the popular television show and book series provides some unique insights into the achievement of status, power, and influence in face-to-face social groups. Read More

An Inconvenient Truth: Race In America (Part I)

Is anyone immune to racial bias? Read More

Intelligence Is Not (Just) Genetic

People (researchers included) often debate about whether intelligence is genetic or learned. Here I discuss why this is the wrong debate. Read More

The Happiness Chronicles II: Does Money Buy Happiness?

This is the second installment in a three part series examining the pursuit of happiness. Last time we considered whether there is a potential dark side to happiness. In this post, we consider an important question: Does money buy happiness? Read More

The Happiness Chronicles I: Is There a Dark Side to Happiness?

Are there hidden costs to pursuing happiness? New research suggests that happiness might have a darker side that actually hinders health and wellness. Read More

Mitt Romney, Impression Formation, and Social Class

Presidential candidates often engage in impression management. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney has been unable to shake his perception as a member of the elite upper-class. Here I explore why this identity is hard for Romney to escape. Read More

Jeremy Lin: Beyond the Numbers

What makes Jeremy Lin a special point guard? One answer might be that his teammates trust him. Read More

The Power to Be Me

We certainly have a wealth of anecdotes about what having power does to people: Power has led political figures like Herman Cain (allegedly) and John Edwards to engage in adultery, facilitated unethical financial practices on Wall Street, and contributed to some of the most overconfident moments in our nation'sAmerican history. Read More

Is Graduate School a Ponzi Scheme?

In an article published several years ago in The Economist, the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree was assessed as a waste of time. Whether or not you agree with this perspective, it is important to consider the points being made. If you are, or have been, a graduate student, you probably learned much of this during your time in grad school. Read More

Can We Reduce Economic Inequality in America?

"the duty of the man of wealth is to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds... becoming the mere trustee and agent of his poorer brethren." Andrew Carnegie Read More

If I Were A Poor Black Kid? You Aren't...

On Monday, a business technology columnist for Forbes magazine wrote a piece outlining what he would do if he were born as a poor black kid. You can check it out here. In short, the main point of the column is that poor black kids need to use technology to overcome the inequality, resource deficits, and diminished social opportunities they are faced with. Read More

Why Should We Care about Inequality?

I admit it, I've lived a relatively charmed life. When you come from the type of privilege that I do, it is easy to forget that others aren't so fortunate. The truth about life in America is that things are much less equal than we realize. Today I review some of the evidence! Read More

Go Tigers!

How can the Southern USA be the simultaneous location for southern hospitality and smash-mouth football? The answer lies in the Southern Culture of Honor. Read More

Skeptical about Scientific Research?

Recently politicians and media experts have questioned the validity and integrity of scientific discoveries. These opinions have real influence on the future of government funding of scientific research. Today, I take a look under the hood of science, to examine why it's okay to be skeptical, but also trusting of scientific research and its conclusions. Read More

Three Myths About Power

Are all our leaders doomed to be immoral, tyrannical, or selfish? Find out more about this and other myths about power, today on Under the Influence. Read More

Michael W. Kraus, Ph.D.

Michael W. Kraus, Ph.D. is a social-personality psychologist and a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco.

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