Power

Basic human value
Value

Name

Power

Types

Basic human value

Conflicting value

Defining goal

Social status and prestige

Intro

Both power and achievement values focus on social esteem. However, achievement values (e.g., ambitious) emphasize the active demonstration of successful performance in concrete interaction, whereas power values (e.g., authority, wealth) emphasize the attainment or preservation of a dominant position within the more general social system.

The functioning of social institutions apparently requires some degree of status differentiation (Parsons, 1951). A dominance/submission dimension emerges in most empirical analyses of interpersonal relations both within and across cultures (Lonner, 1980). To justify this fact of social life and to motivate group members to accept it, groups must treat power as a value. Power values may also be transformations of individual needs for dominance and control. Value analysts have mentioned power values as well (e.g., Allport, 1961). (authority, wealth, social power) [preserving my public image, social recognition]

Motivation

Self-enhancement

Referenced by

Benevolence

Philosophy

Basic human value

Universalism

Philosophy

Basic human value