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The Paradoxical Misuse of Power by Those Who See Themselves as Powerless: How Does It Happen?
Author(s) -
Bugental Daphne Blunt,
Lewis Jeffrey Clayton
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/0022-4537.00104
Subject(s) - power (physics) , psychology , social psychology , criminology , forensic engineering , computer security , engineering , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics
Consideration is given to the paradoxical misuse of power by those who perceive themselves as powerless. A general model is presented to account for the coercive response style often shown by adults with low perceived power when they are placed in a position of authority (e.g., as parents or teachers). Specific hypotheses are tested here concerning control‐oriented cognitive activity and speech patterns shown by “powerless” adults when their authority is challenged. Women with high or low perceived power (as measured by the Parent Attribution Test) attempted to teach a computer game to a responsive or unresponsive child. “Powerless” women showed high levels of control‐oriented appraisal activity preceding teaching interactions and a high level of nonfluency during teaching interactions (an ineffective speech style). It was concluded that the responses shown by “powerless” women set the stage for misunderstanding and future conflict.