Cognitive representations of power in caregiving relationships: Biasing effects on interpersonal interaction and information processing

Relationship schemas were explored as organizers of responses to challenging encounters with children. Adults who see themselves as lacking power as caregivers were predicted to show increased ''defensive'' activity and reduced processing capacity when primed for thoughts of caregiving challenge. In Study 1, 160 mothers engaged in experimentally manipulated interactions with unrelated children who appeared to be responsive or unresponsive to them. Mothers with low perceived power manifested ''defensive'' activity (i.e., appeasement smiles) and difficulty recalling their thoughts after challenging interactions. In Study 2, 150 unmarried women carried out a cognitively demanding task after activation of thoughts of easy or challenging interactions with children. Women with low perceived power showed cognitive interference effects after they had been primed to think about challenging interactions. Activation of low power schemas was interpreted as leading to reduced cognitive capacity.