Authors
Jill EP Knapen, Nancy M Blaker, Mark Van Vugt
Publication date
2018/7
Journal
Psychological science
Volume
29
Issue
7
Pages
1134-1144
Publisher
Sage Publications
Description
Inspired by an evolutionary psychological perspective on the Napoleon complex, we hypothesized that shorter males are more likely to show indirect aggression in resource competitions with taller males. Three studies provide support for our interpretation of the Napoleon complex. Our pilot study shows that men (but not women) keep more resources for themselves when they feel small. When paired with a taller male opponent (Study 1), shorter men keep more resources to themselves in a game in which they have all the power (dictator game) versus a game in which the opponent also has some power (ultimatum game). Furthermore, shorter men are not more likely to show direct, physical aggression toward a taller opponent (Study 2). As predicted by the Napoleon complex, we conclude that (relatively) shorter men show greater behavioral flexibility in securing resources when presented with cues that they are …
Total citations
20182019202020212022202320241157242
Scholar articles
JEP Knapen, NM Blaker, M Van Vugt - Psychological science, 2018