Professor Mark van Vugt

Professor of Social Psychology

 Mark van Vugt

Research interests

Social dilemmas; origins of human altruism and loyalty; leadership and followership; evolutionary social psychology; the social psychology of environmental conservation and management; applying social psychology.

Also, please see my personal web page, a list of publications and the Evolutionary Social Psychology Research page

Selected Publications

Van Vugt, M., Hogan, R., Kaiser, R. (2008). Leadership, followership, and evolution: Some lessons from the past. American Psychologist, 63, 182-196.

Van Vugt, M., De Cremer, D., & Janssen, D. (2007). Gender differences in competition and cooperation: The male warrior hypothesis. Psychological Science. 18, 19-23.

Van Vugt, M. (2006). Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership.  Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10, 354-371

Van Vugt, M., & Hart, C. M. (2004). Social identity as social glue: The origins of group loyalty (2004). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86, 585-598.

Author M.van-Vugt@kent.ac.uk
Number to Show (most recent first) 500
Start Year 2000
End Year 0
Order of publications 0
Books
Articles

    Van Vugt, M. and Schaller, M. (2008) Evolutionary approaches to group dynamics: An introduction. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 12 (1). pp. 1-6. ISSN 1089-2699.

    Abstract

    An evolutionary perspective offers many new insights in the study of group dynamics. First, groups are an inevitable aspect of human evolution, suggesting that humans have evolved a range of psychological mechanisms to deal with specific challenges of group living. Second, an evolutionary perspective combines and integrates knowledge from different social science disciplines such as psychology, biology, anthropology, and economics to find evidence for group-related psychological adaptations. Third, an evolutionary analysis produces many unique hypotheses about group psychology, showing the promise and generativity of this approach.

    Wilson, D. and Van Vugt, M. and O'Gorman, R. (2008) Multilevel selection theory and major evolutionary transitions: Implications for Psychological Science. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17 (1). pp. 6-9. ISSN 0963-7214.

    Abstract

    The concept of a group as comparable to a single organism has had a long and turbulent history. Currently, methodological individualism dominates in many areas of psychology and evolution, but natural selection is now known to operate at multiple levels of the biological hierarchy. When between-group selection dominates within-group selection, a major evolutionary transition occurs and the group becomes a new, higher-level organism. It is likely that human evolution represents a major transition, and this has wide-ranging implications for the psychological study of group behavior, cognition, and culture.

    Van Vugt, M. and Hogan, R. and Kaiser, R. (2008) Leadership, followership, and evolution: Some lessons from the past. American Psychologist, 63 (3). pp. 182-196. ISSN 0003-066X.

    Abstract

    This article analyzes the topic of leadership from an evolutionary perspective and proposes three conclusions that are not part of mainstream theory. First, leading and following are strategies that evolved for solving social coordination problems in ancestral environments, including in particular the problems of group movement, intragroup peacekeeping, and intergroup competition. Second, the relationship between leaders and followers is inherently ambivalent because of the potential for exploitation of followers by leaders. Third, modern organizational structures are sometimes inconsistent with aspects of our evolved leadership psychology, which might explain the alienation and frustration of many citizens and employees. The authors draw several implications of this evolutionary analysis for leadership theory, research, and practice.

    van Vugt, M. (2008) Follow me. New Scientist, 198 (2660). pp. 42-45. ISSN 0262-4079.

    Abstract

    Until recently, very few people have considered the origins of leadership. Yet to understand how our ancestors acquired the psychological biases upon which leadership is based is to see the concept in a whole new light. It can also indicate what sort of leader is best suited to take charge in a particular situation. An obvious concept of leadership is for one individual to take the initiative and provide guidance while the rest agree to follow. If this strategy promotes survival, then psychological adaptations for both leadership and "followership" are likely to evolve. In humans these would have included specialized mental mechanisms for planning, communication, group decision-making, competence recognition, social learning and conflict management. Although such traits are generally associated with higher reasoning, cognitive pre-adaptations for leadership probably evolved long before modern humans ever appeared on the scene.

    Van Vugt, M. and Spisak, B.R. (2008) Sex Differences in the Emergence of Leadership During Competitions Within and Between Groups. Psychological Science, 19 (9). pp. 854-858. ISSN 0956-7976.

    Abstract

    This experiment investigated potential gender biases in the emergence of leadership in groups. Teams played a public-goods game under conditions of intra- or intergroup competition. We predicted and found a strong preference for female leaders during intragroup competition and male leaders during intergroup competition. Furthermore, during intragroup competition, a female leader was more instrumental than a male leader in raising group investments, but this pattern was reversed during intergroup competition. These findings suggest that particular group threats elicit specific gender-biased leader prototypes. We speculate about the evolutionary and cultural origins of these sex differences in the emergence of leadership.

    Shaw, P.J. and Lyas, J.K. and Maynard, J.J. et al. (2007) On the relationship between set-out rates and participation ratios as a tool for enhancement of kerbside household waste recycling. Journal of Environmental Management, 83 (1). pp. 34-43. ISSN 0301-4797.

    Abstract

    Although the use of kerbside recycling facilities by householders is often key to the reduction of materials disposed of to landfill, the quantitative assessment of householders' recycling behaviour is problematic. This study introduces a method to diagnose recycling behaviour by assessing kerbside scheme use in terms of the set-out of recyclate containers compared to the proportion of households participating in recycling (participation ratio). Application of numerical behaviour models demonstrated that kerbside recycling in sampled regions of the UK tends to be consistent with householders using kerbside schemes more frequently than would be observed with random patterns of use that are uniform amongst all householders. When aggregated to collection rounds, householders' modal recycling behaviour tended towards either non-participation or frequent participation. We propose that initiatives to enhance kerbside recycling should employ such quantitative assessments of recycling behavioural modes to inform and guide promotional and educational strategies. A conceptual model for prioritizing campaigns to promote recycling at the kerbside on the basis of identifiable and quantifiable patterns of householder recycling behaviour is presented.

    Van Vugt, M. and De Cremer, D. and Janssen, D.P. (2007) Gender differences in cooperation and competition - The male-warrior hypothesis. Psychological Science, 18 (1). pp. 19-23. ISSN 0956-7976.

    Abstract

    Evolutionary scientists argue that human cooperation is the product of a long history of competition among rival groups. There are various reasons to believe that this logic applies particularly to men. In three experiments, using a step-level public-goods task, we found that men contributed more to their group if their group was competing with other groups than if there was no intergroup competition. Female cooperation was relatively unaffected by intergroup competition. These findings suggest that men respond more strongly than women to intergroup threats. We speculate about the evolutionary origins of this gender difference and note some implications

    Hart, C.M. and Van Vugt, M. (2006) From fault line to group fission: Understanding transformations in small groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32 (3). pp. 392-404. ISSN 0146-1672.

    Abstract

    Group fissions occur when two or more members leave a parent group to either form a new group or join an existing group. This article investigates the interplay between two factors: the presence Of an intragroup conflict and subgroup boundaries on the group fission process. It is hypothesized that subgroup divisions act as potential fault lines along which groups split after they experience conflict. The results of three experiments, one scenario study and two laboratory studies involving small task groups, support the group fault line hypothesis. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for theory and research on membership changes in small groups.

    Hardy, C. and Van Vugt, M. (2006) Nice guys finish first: The competitive altruism hypothesis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,, 32 (10). pp. 1402-1413. ISSN 0146-1672.

    Abstract

    Three experimental studies examined the relationship between altruistic behavior and the emergence of status hierarchies within groups. In each study, group members were confronted with a social dilemma in which they could either benefit themselves or their group. Study I revealed that in a reputation environment when contributions were public, people were more altruistic. In both Studies I and 2, the most altruistic members gained the highest status in their g-roup and were most frequently preferred as cooperative interaction partners. Study 3 showed that as the costs of altruism increase, the status rewards also increase. These results support the premise at the heart Of competitive altruism: Individuals may behave altruistically for reputation reasons because selective benefits (associated with status) accrue to the generous.

    Van Vugt, M. (2006) Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10 (4). pp. 354-371. ISSN 1088-8683.

    Abstract

    Drawing upon evolutionary logic, leadership is reconceptualized in terms of the outcome of strategic interactions among individuals who are following different, yet complementary, decision rules to solve recurrent coordination problems. This article uses the vast psychological literature on leadership as a database to test several evolutionary hypotheses about the origins of leadership and followership in humans. As expected, leadership correlates with initiative taking, trait measures of intelligence, specific task competencies, and several indicators of generosity. The review finds no link between leadership and dominance. The evolutionary analysis accounts for reliable age, health, and sex differences in leadership emergence. In general, evolutionary theory provides a useful, integrative framework for studying leader-follower relationships and generates various novel research hypotheses.

    Lyas, J.K. and Shaw, P.J. and Van Vugt, M. (2005) Kerbside recycling in the London Borough of Havering: progress and priorities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 45 (1). pp. 1-17. ISSN 0921-3449.

    Van Vugt, M. and Chang, K. and Hart, C. (2005) The impact of leadership style on group stability. Chinese Journal of Psychology, 47 (4). pp. 365-380. ISSN 1013-9656.

    Joireman, J. and Van Lange, P. and Van Vugt, M (2004) Who cares about the environmental impact of cars? Those with an eye toward the future. Environment and Behavior, 36 (2). pp. 187-206. ISSN 0013-9165.

    Abstract

    This study examines preference for commuting to work by car or public transportation (PT) within an expanded social dilemma framework (i.e., one that recognizes the importance of both social and temporal concerns). Commuters completed scales assessing commuting preferences, beliefs regarding the environmental impact of cars, social value orientation (SVO), and the consideration of future consequences (CFC). Preference for PT was higher among commuters who believed that commuting by car harms the environment and among those scoring high in CFC. Most important, a significant two-way interaction revealed that preference for commuting by PT was positively related to beliefs regarding the harmful environmental consequences of commuting by car only among those high in CFC. SVO was unrelated to commuting preferences. In sum, a future orientation may be more important than a prosocial orientation in shaping commuting preferences

    Van Vugt, M. and Jepson, S.F. and Hart, C.M. et al. (2004) Autocratic leadership in social dilemmas: A threat to group stability. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 0022-1031.

    Abstract

    This paper investigated the impact of leadership style on the stability of small social dilemma groups. In two experiments, group members were more likely to exit their group and take their resources elsewhere if they were supervised by an autocratic style leader than by a democratic or laissez-faire style leader. The destabilizing influence of autocratic leadership is due to the procedural rather than distributive aspects of this leadership style: More members exited their group under an autocratic style leader, relative to a democratic style leader, regardless of whether or not they received favorable personal outcomes from the leader. Hence, autocratic leadership is not a stable long-term solution to the problem of public goods in groups.

    Van Vugt, M. (2004) Follow the leader…but at what cost? The Psychologist, 17 (part 5). pp. 274-277.

    Abstract

    Leaders of all types – of nations, ethnic and religious communities, businesses and teams – often call upon individuals to make sacrifices for the group, especially during wars, recessions, competitions, and other situations in which groups are under threat. At the peak of the Cold War, for example, John F. Kennedy famously stated in his inaugural address: ‘My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.’ More recently, Tony Blair announced the war with Iraq by praising the loyalty of the British troops: ‘As so often before, on the courage and determination of British men and women, serving our country, the fate of many nations rests.’ To understand why people are willing to make sacrifices for their groups, sometimes even at the cost of their lives, we must try to comprehend how leaders are able to influence individuals so that they will forgo their immediate interests and act for the greater good of the group.

    Lyas, J.K. and Shaw, P.J. and Van Vugt, M. (2004) Provision of feedback to promote householders’ use of a kerbside recycling scheme: a social dilemma perspective. Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management, 30 (1). pp. 7-18.

    Van Vugt, M. and Hart, C.M. (2004) Social identity as social glue: The origins of group loyalty. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86 (4). pp. 585-598. ISSN 0022-3514.

    Abstract

    In 3 experiments, the authors investigated the role of social identity in fostering group loyalty, defined as staying when members can obtain better outcomes by leaving their group. In Experiment 1, high (vs. low) identifiers expressed a stronger desire to stay in the group in the presence of an attractive (vs. unattractive) exit option. Experiments 2 and 3 replicated this basic finding and tested several explanations. The results suggest that high identifiers' group loyalty is better explained by an extremely positive impression of their group membership (group perception) than by a justification of previous investments in the group (self-perception) or their adherence to a nonabandonment norm (norm perception). Hence, social identity seems to act as social glue. It provides stability in groups that would otherwise collapse.

    Van Vugt, M. and Dowding, K. and John, P. et al. (2003) The exit of residential mobility or the voice of political action? Strategies for problem solving in residential communities. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 33 (2). pp. 321-338. ISSN 0021-9029.

    Abstract

    Abstract: This research investigated 2 action strategies for residents to deal with dissatisfying community services: moving out of the community (exit), or communicating dissatisfaction to local authorities (voice). Data were used from a population movement survey conducted among 1,529 households in 3 major cities in the United Kingdom in 1997. Employing concepts from interdependence theory (Kelley & Thibaut, 1978), we predicted that dissatisfaction with community services would lead to more exit and voice responses. Furthermore, exit was predicted to be dominant among residents who, for diverse reasons, were less dependent; and voice was predicted for residents who were more dependent on the community. These predictions were supported, and the relevance of these findings for understanding community stability and improvement is discussed.

    Powell, C. and Van Vugt, M. (2003) Genuine giving or selfish sacrifice? The role of commitment and cost level upon willingness to sacrifice. European Journal of Social Psychology, 33 (3). pp. 403-412. ISSN 0046-2772.

    Abstract

    This research uses interdependence theory to examine the link between commitment, costs, and willingness to sacrifice within interdependence dilemmas occurring in intimate relationships. Advancing prior work, which has demonstrated a positive association between relationship commitment and willingness to sacrifice, we investigated the moderating role of the cost of sacrifice in a scenario-based survey. Consistent with our hypotheses it was found that in high cost interdependence dilemmas, significantly greater levels of sacrifice were observed from individuals classified as high in commitment than from individuals classified as low in commitment. However in low cost dilemmas the relationship between commitment and sacrifice disappears. Possible differences in motivations for sacrifice are discussed with respect to this finding

    De Cremer, D. and Van Vugt, M (2002) Intergroup and Intragroup Aspects of Leadership in SocialDilemmas: A Relational Model of Cooperation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38 (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WJB-45B58TX-3&_user=125871&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000010239&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=125871&md5=c00cf6aeb0e3444286e324e6b78c07a8). pp. 126-136. ISSN 0022-1031.

    Abstract

    Two experiments investigated how leadership shapes individual contributions in small groups facing public goods dilemmas. We predicted that the influence of leaders would be determined by their ability to fulfill both instrumental needs (solve the free-rider problem) and relational needs (contribute to the identity) of group members. The relative importance of these two needs was expected to vary with the salience of group membership (social vs personal identity). This hypothesis was supported in two experiments. Experiment 1 revealed that leaders showing group commitment and fairness toward members were more effective at raising contributions when social identity was salient. Furthermore, Experiment 2 showed that highly committed leaders were more influential when social identity was salient, whereas leaders with intrinsic leadership skills were more influential when personal identity was salient. This suggests that the effectiveness of leader solutions to social dilemmas depends upon the fit between leader characteristics and member expectations.

    Van Vugt, M. (2002) Central, individual or collective control? Social dilemma strategies for natural resource management. American Behavioral Scientist, 45 (5). pp. 783-800. ISSN 0002-7642.

    Abstract

    In this article, natural resource management is conceptualized as a social dilemma, a conflict between the short-term self-interest of users and the tong-tern collective interest of the user community. A self-interest versus community perspective is offered to explain individuals' decision making in resource dilemmas. The self-interest model assumes that users seek to maximize their personal benefits regardless of the collective implications. To foster sustainable use, it is necessary to restrict people's access to the resource either through controlling the resource centrally (centralization) or by creating a system of individual access (individualization). The alternative community model suggests that communities can foster self-restraint among users provided that they feel attached to their community. These two perspectives and their implications for natural resource management are systematically compared using findings from research on water conservation.

    Van Vugt, M. and D., De.Cremer. (2002) Leadership and cooperation in groups: Integrating the social dilemma and social identity perspectives. European Review of Social Psychology, 13. pp. 155-184. ISSN 1046-3283.

    Van Vugt, M. and Snyder, M. (2002) Cooperation in Society: Fostering Community Action and Civic Participation. American Behavioral Scientist, 45 (5). pp. 761-918. ISSN 0002-7642.

    Joireman, J. and Van Lange, P. and Van Vugt, M. et al. (2001) Structural solutions to social dilemmas: A field study on commuters' willingness to fund improvements in public transit. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31 (3). pp. 504-526. ISSN 0021-9029.

    Abstract

    The present field study examined commuters’(N = 152) willingness to fund improvements in public transit. Consistent with Samuelson's (1993; Samuelson & Messick, 1995) multiattribute evaluation model of structural change in social dilemmas, support for the transit plan was higher when it was perceived to be (a) effective at reducing congestion and pollution, (b) personally beneficial, and (c) fair in terms of taxes and benefits. Also consistent with predictions, these relationships were moderated by individual differences in social value orientation (MClintock, 1968) and the consideration of future consequences (CFC; Strathman, Gleicher, Boninger, & Edwards, 1994). Prosocials responded more to the perceived fairness of the plan, while proselfs responded more to the plan's effectiveness in reducing congestion. Low CFCs responded more to the plan's personal benefits and effectiveness in reducing congestion, while high CFCs responded more to the plan's effectiveness in reducing pollution.

    Van Vugt, M. (2001) Community identification moderating the impact of financial incentives in a natural social dilemma:Water Conservation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,, 27 (11). pp. 1140-1149. ISSN 0146-1672.

    Abstract

    The moderating role of community identification was investigated in the impact of different tariff system on domestic water use. Over a 9-month interval, both consumption and survey data were collected in 278 households in the United Kingdom, 203 of which were on a variable tariff (i.e., charges related to use) and 75 on a fixed tariff (i.e., charges unrelated to use). Adopting a social dilemma approach, I expected a fixed tariff to be associated with greater use than a variable tariff, in particular when resources were valuable and people identified weakly with their community. This hypothesis was supported in both the field study and an experimental study that simulated a natural resource crisis in the laboratory.

    Van Vugt, M. (2001) Self-interest as self-fulfilling prophecy. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24 (3). pp. 429-430. ISSN 0140-525X.

    Abstract

    The adoption of experimental methods from economics, in particular script-enactment, performance-related payment, and the absence of deception, will turn experimental social psychology into a trivial science subject, Such procedures force participants to conform to a normative expectation that they must behave rationally and in accordance with their self-interest. The self-fulfilling prophecy inherent in these procedures makes it more difficult to conduct innovative social-psychological research.

Book Sections
Total publications: 34 [See all in KAR]
Information obtained from the Kent Academic Repository. The University of Kent official repository of academic activity.
More information about the Kent Academic Repository

Current Research Students

Charlie Hardy: The origins of status: An evolutionary psychological approach

Wendy Iredale: Understanding Altruism: The Role of Sexual Selection.

Bian Spisak: The Evolution of Facial Characteristics: Cues for Leadership Emergence

Past Research Students

Claire Hart (group fissions; Departmental studentship; 1/5/2005)

Chris Stiff (recruitment strategies in groups; completed 1/3/2005; ESRC-studentship)

Chantal Powell (conflict and cooperation in close relationships; completed 27/11/02; ESRC studentship)

David De Cremer (leadership in social dilemmas; completed 15/08/99; internal studentship; awarded best PhD-thesis by British Psychological Society)

 

 European Science Foundation EuroCores.
The role of reputations in human cooperation: Bridging social and biological approaches (European network of researchers; decision pending)

€381,113

 

 Mark van Vugt
Economic and Social Research Council
The emergence of leadership in small groups

£75.000

2003

 Mark van Vugt & Robin Dunbar
The British Academy
From Lucy to Language: The Archaeology of the Social Brain.

£1.1 million

2003

 Mark van Vugt & Peter Shaw
National Cleanaway Trust
Community identity and recycling behaviour II

£100,000

 

 Mark van Vugt
Economic and Social Research Council
Leadership in an evolutionary framework (PhD-studentship award)

£40,000

2002

 Mark van Vugt
Economic and Social Research Council
Membership change in small groups:  Investigating group resilience

£41,000

 

 Mark van Vugt & Arild Vatn
Norwegian Research Council
Multifunctional agriculture – transaction costs, behavior and policy measures.

£150,000

2002

 Mark van Vugt & Radmila Prislin
Leverhulme Trust
Consequences of social change for community cohesion. Research Interchange Grant

£20,000

2001

 Mark van Vugt
Economic and Social Research Council
Recruitment strategies in groups: A social dilemma perspective (Ph.D.-studentship award)

£30,000

2001

 Mark van Vugt & Peter Shaw
National Cleanaway Trust
Community identity and recycling behaviour

£250,000

2000

 Mark van Vugt & Aaron Hatcher
European Union Framework IV: 
Cooperation and regulatory compliance in European fishery organisations

£350,000

1999

 Mark van Vugt
National Health Service
Evaluation of Citizens’ Jury on Restructuring Local Health Services

£15,000

1999

 Mark van Vugt
European UnionFunding for SPEER-group (economists and social psychologists conducting environmental research)

£10,000

1999

 Mark van Vugt
ESRC
Conflict and cooperation in close relationships (Ph.D.-studentship)

£30,000

1998

 Mark van Vugt
Southern Water Company
Structural and social-psychological determinants of pro-environmental action:  Water conservation.

£30,000

1998

 Mark van Vugt & Anders Biel
EAESP and Swedish Government
Workshop on social dilemmas

£10,000

1998

 Mark van Vugt & Ree Meertens
Netherlands Ministry of Traffic
Self-justification among car drivers

£50,000

1996

 Mark van Vugt
University of Southampton Faculty Development Scheme
Leadership in social dilemmas

£20,000

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests are evolutionary social psychology, group processes and intergroup relations, leadership, competition and cooperation in groups, and some areas of applied social psychology (for example, charity, environmental conservation, organ donation)

Chair of the Evolution and Social Sciences group at Kent University.

Editorial board of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Panel member of QAA panel Psychology, the Netherlands.

Grant reviewer for ESRC, Leverhulme, Nuffield, and various research councils abroad.

External PhD examiner

Professional Memberships

American Psychological Association

Association of Netherlands Social Psychologists

British Psychological Society

European Association of Experimental Social Psychology

Human Behavior and Evolution Society

Society for Experimental Social Psychology

Society of Personality and Social Psychology

Department of Psychology
Keynes College
University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent
CT2 7NP
United Kingdom

Tel. +44 (0)1227 827468
Fax. +44 (0)1227 827030
Email: Mark van Vugt

Office: Keynes A3.12

Office Hours: Monday 10.00 - 11.00am, Wednesday 12.00 - 1.00pm