The manifestation of the motive of power can be limited to the group close to the subject (family, friends), it can reach spheres further away (work, studies), and can even reach completely distant heights (other people or areas unknown). In the first two cases, the objective is to shape the implicit or explicit hierarchies of power; In the third is the need to achieve dominance and control of other people. We invite you to read this article on Psychology-Online, in it we will delve into the Primary and Secondary Motives: the reason for power.
Winter (1973) has defined the power motive as a stable tendency to influence, persuade, and control other people, as well as to obtain recognition and even acclaim for the behaviors that the subject performs in search of his or her goal.
De Santamaría (1987) does it in terms of desire to control the means to influence others, change the way of thinking, or dominate in any way the actions or thoughts of others.
Although the power motive refers to a stable trend in subjects, it is usually triggered under certain situations.
Biological aspects
The notable increases in the power motive correspond to increases in the levels of catecholamines, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
The power motive is related to the right hemisphere and to increased levels of norepinephrine.
Learning aspects
Much of the motivated behaviors require the participation of the learning processes.
One of the areas where the role of the power motive is most clearly delimited, refers to the cwave of aggression:
Obtaining something that is not possessed, or the preservation of something already possessed, implies the experience of the positive connotations associated with it. reinforcement (high scores in the power motive show more frequently behaviors related to competitiveness, including the externalization of aggressive behaviors).
The existence of a relationship between reason for power and job choice.
Thus, subjects with high scores for power reasons tend to choose professions such as teaching, psychology, or communication, which offer the possibility of influencing, controlling and dominating others people.
Cognitive aspects
The power motive related to cognitive aspects: it has to do with the efforts made by the subject to obtain positions of responsibility and hierarchy in the workplaceTo do this, it finds groups in which the number of people is small: the reason for power is smaller than when the group is larger.
Subjects with a great power motive tend to select little-known companions, so that they do not have notoriety.
Selfishness and self-directed behavior are characteristic of subjects with a high power motive.
They try to convince the members of the group of the needs of that group, when in fact they mask the individual need, selling it as a group.
As indicated Franken (1988) the power motive usually undergoes several changes as the subject matures psychologically. These steps or stages are as follows:
- Acquisition stage: obtaining material goals
- Autonomy stage: Subject's attempts to control anger.
- Assertiveness stage: explicit manifestation of independence. Leadership configuration often occurs.
- Productivity / membership stage: the individual is involved in associations and organizations, trying to contribute his work to the group.
Zimbardo (1972) states that when a subject is given the opportunity to control the behavior of other subjects, he tends to manifest the most basic forms of control; authority through aggression.
Deindividualization is the normal precursor to physical aggression.
In short, it seems that the power motive has clear influences derived from the learning processes, allowing that, if the social norms of that group are appropriate, this motive acquires positive connotations for the group.
The reason for affiliation refers to the tendency of subjects to associate with other individuals, to seek more or less frequent social contact, and to form relatively stable groups.
It begins to develop from infancy, having its first outlines in the attachment that is established between the baby and her parents. The reason for affiliation has to do with the need to be socially accepted, and to have a certain security in interpersonal relationships.
The affiliation motive seems to somewhat counteract the negative characteristics that the power motive may possess. Aspects related to selfishness and self-directed behavior are sifted by helpful, disinterested behaviors directed toward others.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
