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How does power affect those who have it and those who don't?
Power can have a number of different effects on people, both positive and negative. On the positive side, power can give people a sense of control and confidence. It can also make people feel more influential and respected. On the negative side, power can make people feel arrogant and entitled. It can also lead to abuse of power.
One of the ways power influences people is by affecting their thoughts and the way they process information. Research has shown that people in positions of relative power think in more abstract terms. They also process information in a simplified way, which can lead to more stereotyping and a heightened focus on central versus peripheral details of a situation. Power has also been shown to make people more strict in how they judge others and less likely to consider other people’s perspectives. Power also leads people to be more confident in their decisions and minimizes the perceived impediments to their goals.
Power also alters someone's emotional experience. People in positions of power enjoy more positive emotions and higher levels of optimism and do so in potentially challenging situations, such as when leading discussions of controversial topics. They have also been shown to smile more, conceal sadness better than those low in power, and react less in response to stressful circumstances. People high in power have also been shown to feel less distress in the face of others’ suffering and reduce the extent to which they mirror the emotional responses of other people.
Power also changes the way people behave. Those who possess power are more likely to begin a negotiation, touch other people, and take initiative when it is unclear whether such behavior is permitted. In general, power leads people to feel less constrained by social conventions and more likely to violate social norms. Overall, it seems that power tends to make people more comfortable in taking action that fosters their personal goals.
Power extends far beyond the formal authority that comes from a title (or from having a corner office with a view). Leaders at all levels have access to power, but that power often goes unrecognized or underutilized.
Previous research has identified 7 bases of power that leaders may leverage:
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By Phil & Indigo
5
77 ratings
Power can have a number of different effects on people, both positive and negative. On the positive side, power can give people a sense of control and confidence. It can also make people feel more influential and respected. On the negative side, power can make people feel arrogant and entitled. It can also lead to abuse of power.
One of the ways power influences people is by affecting their thoughts and the way they process information. Research has shown that people in positions of relative power think in more abstract terms. They also process information in a simplified way, which can lead to more stereotyping and a heightened focus on central versus peripheral details of a situation. Power has also been shown to make people more strict in how they judge others and less likely to consider other people’s perspectives. Power also leads people to be more confident in their decisions and minimizes the perceived impediments to their goals.
Power also alters someone's emotional experience. People in positions of power enjoy more positive emotions and higher levels of optimism and do so in potentially challenging situations, such as when leading discussions of controversial topics. They have also been shown to smile more, conceal sadness better than those low in power, and react less in response to stressful circumstances. People high in power have also been shown to feel less distress in the face of others’ suffering and reduce the extent to which they mirror the emotional responses of other people.
Power also changes the way people behave. Those who possess power are more likely to begin a negotiation, touch other people, and take initiative when it is unclear whether such behavior is permitted. In general, power leads people to feel less constrained by social conventions and more likely to violate social norms. Overall, it seems that power tends to make people more comfortable in taking action that fosters their personal goals.
Power extends far beyond the formal authority that comes from a title (or from having a corner office with a view). Leaders at all levels have access to power, but that power often goes unrecognized or underutilized.
Previous research has identified 7 bases of power that leaders may leverage: