Jonathan Renshon
Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2010–2012
Experience
Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2010–2012
Current Affiliation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California; Assistant Professor of Political Science (on leave), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
September 24, 2012
"Leadership is Associated with Lower Levels of Stress"
Journal Article, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
By Gary D. Sherman, Jooa J. Lee, Amy J. C. Cuddy, Jonathan Renshon, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2010–2012, Christopher Oveis, James J. Gross and Jennifer Lerner
As leaders ascend to more powerful positions in their groups, they face ever-increasing demands. As a result, there is a common perception that leaders have higher stress levels than nonleaders. However, if leaders also experience a heightened sense of control—a psychological factor known to have powerful stress-buffering effects—leadership should be associated with reduced stress levels. Using unique samples of real leaders, including military officers and government officials, we found that, compared with nonleaders, leaders had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower reports of anxiety (study 1). In study 2, leaders holding more powerful positions exhibited lower cortisol levels and less anxiety than leaders holding less powerful positions, a relationship explained significantly by their greater sense of control. Altogether, these findings reveal a clear relationship between leadership and stress, with leadership level being inversely related to stress.
AP Photo
April 6, 2012
"Why Don't Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum Just Quit?"
Op-Ed, Washington Post
By Jonathan Renshon, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2010–2012, Jennifer Lerner and Philip Tetlock
"Even experts are not immune to such errors: Making decisions in their area of expertise, doctors, lawyers and financial managers are just as likely as the general public to fall victim to overconfidence. Political candidates — even smart, knowledgeable ones — are likely to overestimate their chances of winning and, as a campaign goes on, to misjudge their chances of political resurrection. This is why there are so many candidates to begin with."
