Trait evaluation is context-dependent and flips with role fit

Evidence

Even unfavorably evaluated qualities, such as extremely dominant behavior, can be positively evaluated if they are considered within a specific role context in which they are useful, such as engaging in competitive activity (Diekman, 2001). As these examples show, personal qualities that are positive in the abstract can take on less positive or even negative connotations in the context of incongruent roles, and qualities that are negative in the abstract can take on less negative or even positive connotations. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 197

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to status-construction and expectation-states theory claims already in the vault about how competence attributions vary by position. — connects to: Hierarchical rank determines which personality traits employers need in a worker — Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Schooling in Capitalist America:…, 900; Repertoires are toolkits whose efficacy depends on match with tasks and users — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 350
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 197