Power Traits
Power Traits
PSY 150/200C
January 27, 2014
Karkoulian, S., Messarra, L., & Sidani, M. (2009). CORRELATES OF THE BASES OF POWER AND THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS: AN IMPERICAL INVESTIGATION. Journal Of Organizatinal Culture, Communications & Conflict,13(2),71-82
I find it interesting that so much time is spent in the pursuit of power in the corporate world when, quite possibly, all that I must do is to ‘condition’ my own thought patterns, and I may have all the power I desire.
In an attempt to find a correlation between power and personality, this study surveyed 200 employees, 150 of which were filled out, attaining a random sampling of the desired population: an employee working in a ‘medium’ sized organization. In a three part questionnaire, Karkoulian, Messarra, and Sidani first acquired results for demographic variables. The French and Raven (1959) power bases structure was used in the second part. The third and final part was to test two personality traits (agreeableness and neuroticism). After reviewing previous research studies, the authors formulated several hypotheses they were prepared to test. Though their experiment, they found that expert, referent, reward and legitimate powers were positively related to agreeableness; whereas, neuroticism was negatively related to referent power and positively related to coercive power, which supported their hypotheses.
In Chapter 11 of our textbook, page 301, table 11.2 gives the breakdown of the “Big Five” Personality Factors. In this experiment, the researchers examined both agreeableness and neuroticism and how they relate to one’s own power. People use strengths in these areas to help them gain or govern their power. Weaknesses in these areas dictate how they will wield power. Another attribute of psychology in the experiment is always one that has confounded me: the fact that a survey produces such accurate results, even when only 75% of the surveys are completed.
PSY 150/200C
January 27, 2014
Karkoulian, S., Messarra, L., & Sidani, M. (2009). CORRELATES OF THE BASES OF POWER AND THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS: AN IMPERICAL INVESTIGATION. Journal Of Organizatinal Culture, Communications & Conflict,13(2),71-82
I find it interesting that so much time is spent in the pursuit of power in the corporate world when, quite possibly, all that I must do is to ‘condition’ my own thought patterns, and I may have all the power I desire.
In an attempt to find a correlation between power and personality, this study surveyed 200 employees, 150 of which were filled out, attaining a random sampling of the desired population: an employee working in a ‘medium’ sized organization. In a three part questionnaire, Karkoulian, Messarra, and Sidani first acquired results for demographic variables. The French and Raven (1959) power bases structure was used in the second part. The third and final part was to test two personality traits (agreeableness and neuroticism). After reviewing previous research studies, the authors formulated several hypotheses they were prepared to test. Though their experiment, they found that expert, referent, reward and legitimate powers were positively related to agreeableness; whereas, neuroticism was negatively related to referent power and positively related to coercive power, which supported their hypotheses.
In Chapter 11 of our textbook, page 301, table 11.2 gives the breakdown of the “Big Five” Personality Factors. In this experiment, the researchers examined both agreeableness and neuroticism and how they relate to one’s own power. People use strengths in these areas to help them gain or govern their power. Weaknesses in these areas dictate how they will wield power. Another attribute of psychology in the experiment is always one that has confounded me: the fact that a survey produces such accurate results, even when only 75% of the surveys are completed.