Can you expect the boss to be ethical? Effects of boss' status and power on subordinates' trust

In many organizations, the power an employee has is dependent on the position he/she holds within the organization. Whereas a great deal of research has examined the effects that power can have on those who possess it, this research examines how others perceive individuals who hold powerful positions, particularly those who have direct power over them, and predicts that others will have less trust for more powerful individuals than they will for those who are equally powerful. Furthermore, it is predicted that this negative effect of power on trust occurs because others have higher expectations that powerful individuals will engage in unethical behavior, but that this effect can be attenuated by the amount of status the powerful individual is perceived to have. Some evidence is found in four experimental laboratory studies and one survey study for some of these hypotheses. An agenda for future research is suggested, including a discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of the findings of th...