Psychology of Leadership Flashcards

Which psychological concept describes a leader's tendency to overestimate their own abilities relative to others?

Answer: Illusory superiority

Illusory superiority is the cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their own qualities and abilities relative to others, commonly observed in leadership contexts.

A leader notices team members withhold concerns to avoid conflict. This group dynamic is best described as:

Answer: Groupthink

Groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony or conformity overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, causing team members to suppress dissenting views.

In self-determination theory, which need is met when a leader provides meaningful rationale for tasks?

Answer: Autonomy

Providing meaningful rationale supports the autonomy need by helping individuals internalize and identify with the value of a task rather than feeling externally controlled.

Which attachment style is most associated with leaders who struggle to delegate and micromanage?

Answer: Anxious-preoccupied

Anxious-preoccupied attachment is linked to fear of inadequacy and loss of control, which often manifests as micromanagement and difficulty trusting others.

A coach helps an executive recognize recurring patterns across multiple professional relationships. This approach draws primarily on:

Answer: Object relations theory

Object relations theory examines how early relational experiences create internal models that unconsciously shape recurring interpersonal patterns in adult relationships.

Research on psychological safety in teams, pioneered by Amy Edmondson, shows it primarily predicts:

Answer: Team learning behavior and innovation

Edmondson's research shows psychological safety — believing one won't be punished for speaking up — is the strongest predictor of team learning, error reporting, and innovation.

The phenomenon where a leader unconsciously recreates childhood family dynamics within their work team is called:

Answer: Repetition compulsion

Repetition compulsion describes the unconscious tendency to repeat early relational patterns, including recreating family-of-origin dynamics in workplace relationships.