An experimental examination of social contexts and the use of power in a Chinese sample

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of Social Psychology

Publication Date

12-1-2005

Volume

145

Issue

6

First Page

645

Last Page

661

Publisher

Psychology Press

Keywords

China, Cooperation and competition, Leadership, Power

Abstract

Researchers have considered power as a largely corrupting force in organizations. In the present experiment, the authors used the theory of cooperation and competition to investigate the effects of social context on power use in a sample of Chinese participants. The present results support the reasoning that high power compared to low power provides the capacity to assist employees and that cooperative, but not competitive, goals facilitate the motivation of managers to use their power to support employees and to develop managerial conclusions that employees are capable and appreciative. These results suggest limitations to traditional organizational power theories that assume a competitive context between the powerful and those subject to power. Cooperative goals appear to be an important basis for developing the positive face of power in organizations in China and perhaps in other cultures as well.

DOI

10.3200/SOCP.145.6.645-662

Print ISSN

00224545

E-ISSN

19401183

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Tjosvold, D., Sun, H. F., & Wan, P. (2005). An experimental examination of social contexts and the use of power in a Chinese sample. Journal of Social Psychology, 145(6), 645-661. doi: 10.3200/SOCP.145.6.645-662

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