From Cues to Categorizations: An Integrative Framework for Leader (Re-)Categorization Over Time

• 成果类型: Review; Early Access
• 署名作者: Young, Henry R.; Joseph, Dana L.; Glerum, David R.; Johnson, Russell E.
• 署名单位: National University of Singapore; State University System of Florida; University of Central Florida; United States Department of Defense; United States Army; Michigan State University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0001319
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: implicit leadership theory; leader categorization; Information processing; cue properties

摘要

Who is perceived as a leader? Traditional theories of leader categorization have primarily emphasized observable behaviors as the key basis for making this judgment. However, a growing body of research shows that perceivers rely on a broader set of cues-beyond behavior alone-that differentially shape leadership attributions. To integrate these perspectives, we present a comprehensive review of how multiple-and sometimes competing-cues are perceived, interpreted, and activated as traits in the leader categorization process. To explain when and why certain cues are attended to while others are overlooked, we draw on a previously overlooked body of research on cue properties, illustrating how characteristics such as cue availability, discriminability, salience, and accessibility influence leadership perceptions. We further demonstrate how cue properties can shift over time by distinguishing cues in terms of their dynamism, with important implications for leader re-categorization. We conclude by offering directions for future research, practical recommendations for individuals seeking to be perceived as leaders, and suggestions for improving leader selection. Our review suggests that recognizing differences among cues and unpacking the process of cue integration is critical for the advancement of leader categorization research.