Exploring the Biological Foundations of Leadership Perception

Jan, Sabreen (2026) Exploring the Biological Foundations of Leadership Perception. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

Leadership is shaped by an interplay of cognitive, sociocultural, and biological factors. Stress, as a biological response, influences leadership perceptions and behaviours, with cortisol providing an objective marker of stress through its physiological fluctuations. This thesis examines how acute stress, indexed by cortisol reactivity, affects implicit leadership traits (ILTs) and motivation to lead (MTL), thereby integrating biological and psychological perspectives on leadership.

A total of 65 university and health professionals completed a number-tracking task designed to induce acute stress, with salivary cortisol levels measured using competitive ELISA assays across three phases (baseline, pre-task, post-task). Cortisol levels increased significantly from baseline and pre-task to post-task, confirming an effective stress induction, while gender and working experience did not significantly influence cortisol responses.

At the perceptual level, Dedication showed a significant decline under stress, whereas other ILT dimensions (Sensitivity, Intelligence, Dynamism, Tyranny, Masculinity) remained stable. Gender differences emerged only for the ILT traits of Masculinity (both phases) and Tyranny (Phase 1), while age was associated with higher Dynamism; working experience did not significantly affect ILT perceptions.

Motivation to Lead decreased significantly from pre- to post-stress, with no significant moderation by gender or age and only a non-significant trend for greater decline among participants with more than ten years of experience. Moderation and correlational analyses indicated that cortisol reactivity was selectively associated with specific traits, including Sensitivity and Masculinity, and with a small number of item-level demographic interactions.

These results suggest that stress does not disrupt leadership perceptions uniformly but selectively affects relational and motivational qualities, particularly Dedication and motivation to lead. The study contributes to theory by linking stress physiology with leadership schemas and identity, and to practice by emphasising the importance of stress management and resilience training to sustain effective leadership under pressure.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 5 March 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Leadership, Implicit leadership theory, Motivation to lead, Stress, Hormones, Cortisol, leadership Perception
Subjects:	CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-01 - business and management (non-specific) CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-04 - management studies CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-09 - others in business and management
Divisions:	Business School > Management, Business and Marketing Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User:	Louise Muldowney
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2026 13:08
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2026 13:08
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16954

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