The unbearable weight of power (Week 5)

Question 1

What are the results found about Ps put in high power vs. low power positions?

Answer 1

Ps in high power positions were more likely to:

• Engage in deviant behaviours
• Make more biased moral judgments (harsher ratings of transgression committed by others than by themselves – moral hypocrisy)

Question 2

What are the two possible reasons why Ps in high power positions are not deterred by guilt when engaging in moral hypocrisy?

Answer 2

1. Sense of entitlement
   - Believe their power is legitimate, make self-righteous judgments
2. Ppl in positions of power are less empathic or good at perspective-taking
   - Don’t see or understand the angst, agony they caused so don’t feel guilty

Question 3

What are the findings by Kraus et al (2011) about Ps in low vs. high power?

Answer 3

• Ps with low (vs. high) power described themselves differently (vs. consistently) in the presence of their family friends and coworkers
• Accommodate their traits to those around them vs.
  Behaved freely in ways consistent with their traits

Being in position of power reveals person’s true nature

Question 4

What are the findings by DeCelles et al. about Ps in low vs. high power?

Answer 4

Power can heighten pre-existing moral tendencies

High power and high moral-identity scores: Less likely to break rules, misbehave, more likely to behave prosocially

High power and low moral-identity scores: More likely to misbehave, less likely to behave prosocially