In the here and now: Power and the experiential self
(2026) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology — Vol. 73, p. 123-171 (2026)
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- Authors
Guinote, Ana 
- Abstract
- A growing body of research has examined how social power shapes access to and reliance on experiential information in judgment and decision-making. Drawing on the Situated Focus Theory of Power, we posit that power enhances individuals’ situational focus and cognitive flexibility. This magnifies their active self, fostering greater presence in the here and now, and rendering subjective experiences more actionable. We discuss evidence on the effects of power on access to bodily signals, interoceptive accuracy, affect-behavior consistency and the use of cognitive experiences (ease-of-retrieval, processing fluency) in reasoning and behavior. We further consider how power holders’ expertise in organizational contexts influences the types of experiences they draw upon – including “intuitive knowing” – and the balance between rapid experiential and more deliberative processes. We also examine consequences of the salient experiential self for metacognitive biases, specifically, overconfidence. Finally, we outline limitations and directions for future research.
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Citations
Guinote, A., & Woltin, K.-A. (2026). In the here and now: Power and the experiential self. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 73, 123-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aesp.2025.10.003 (Original work published 2026)