ABSTRACT
Inferential processes of leadership perception are different from recognitionbased processes in that they emphasize the functional aspects of leadership, as opposed to specific traits or features. Function is still an important component of categorical information (Miller 1978; Rosch 1978), but the source of stimulus information is different. That is, people assume that a major function of leaders is to produce good performance outcomes, and they infer leadership from knowledge of successful task or organizational performance. Moreover, inferential processes are closely associated with attributional analyses. Classifications based on recognition processes, on the other hand, do not require causal analyses (Smith and Miller 1983; Winter and Uleman 1984).
