LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Power struggles: when and why the benefits of power for individuals paradoxically harm groups.

Photo from wikipedia

Research on the dysfunctions of power for group interactions is covered in this review. While individuals generally benefit from possessing power, groups often are plagued by power struggles when one… Click to show full abstract

Research on the dysfunctions of power for group interactions is covered in this review. While individuals generally benefit from possessing power, groups often are plagued by power struggles when one or more individuals within the group possess power, such as in groups with high intra-group power dispersion (e.g. a clear job title hierarchy or differences in salary levels) or a high average level of member power (e.g. management teams, all-star sports teams). In such groups with at least one powerful member, research shows that intragroup power struggles are likely and detract from group outcomes, including performance, viability, and creativity. Groups have the highest quality interactions when they minimize the salience of power within their group by helping individuals expand the 'power pie' in group, such as by identifying multiple sources of power within oneself or the group and having power-holders whom can dynamically flex the perceived power-distance within the group.

Keywords: within group; benefits power; group; power; power struggles; struggles benefits

Journal Title: Current opinion in psychology
Year Published: 2019

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.