Daring to lead: the psychodynamic relationship between anticipated image risk, leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence in undergraduate student teams

Jordan, Emma

Daring to lead: the psychodynamic relationship between anticipated image risk, leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence in undergraduate student teams

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Organisational Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

This study investigated some of factors that influence leadership emergence, despite potential image risks, in undergraduate student teams at a South African university. Data was collected for two studies. Both studies employed a quantitative research design to collect data through electronic, self-report surveys. The first study utilised cross-sectional data from students (N = 353) who had engaged in group work and assignments during their undergraduate career at university. The second study utilised a time-lagged design, in which second-year students (N = 27), who were engaged in group work for a 4-week period, were required to complete self- report surveys at two points in time – before team formation and after team assignment submission. Leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence were found to be positively related in both Study 1 and Study 2. Anticipated image risk was found to be negatively related with both leader-identity endorsement and leadership emergence. Leader- identity endorsement mediated the relationship between anticipated image risk and leader- identity endorsement. Additionally, leadership self-efficacy mediated the relationship between anticipated image risk and leader-identity endorsement, as well as the relationship between anticipated image risk and leadership emergence. Theoretical and practical implications as well as recommendations for future research are presented.