Types of Power Motivation, Sense of Security, and Style of Power-Seeking in Groups

Abstract

Two studies examined the hypothesis that, in men, the revised nPower system of Winter measures a specific type of power orientation, which is associated with a moderate sense of security and a moderately defensive style of power-seeking. It was also hypothesized that nPower measures a less secure and a more defensive type of power orientation than the Dominance scale (Dom) of the California Psychological Inventory. High nPower (nPow) scores were associated with a moderate sense of security, whereas high Dominance scores were associated with a high sense of security, as indicated by self-report and sentence-completion personality tests and by peer ratings. In small groups, nPow predicted the development of the moderately defensive attitude of extreme superiority, whereas Dominance predicted the development of the nondefensive orientations of leadership-seeking and unsolicited helping. nPow was negatively related to unsolicited helping. Dominance but not nPow predicted the achievement of leadership and self-confident behavior. On the basis of these results and findings from other studies, it is argued that nPow, unlike Dominance, does not predict leadership-seeking and attainment in long-term small groups.