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The Dark Side of Possessing Power: Power Reduces Happiness in a Collectivist Context

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  • Jesus Datu
  • Jose Reyes

Abstract

Most recent conceptualizations emphasized the role of power in facilitating positive psychological outcomes (subjective well being) as it reduces sensitivity to social cues and increases authenticity among people in the Western contexts who would likely manifest an independent self-construal. Though, the self-construal theory posits that individuals in collectivist cultures would more likely endorse a view of self that prioritize sensitivity to contextual information through an interdependent self-construal. This implies that power may have a different impact on subjective well being in interdependent societies since authenticity was found to be a less important predictor of happiness in collectivist cultures. The aim of the study is to determine the predictive influence of power on SWB as mediated by authenticity. Results showed that power positively predicted authenticity. However, power negatively predicted SWB and authenticity mediated the link between power and SWB. Implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Jesus Datu & Jose Reyes, 2015. "The Dark Side of Possessing Power: Power Reduces Happiness in a Collectivist Context," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(3), pages 981-991, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:124:y:2015:i:3:p:981-991
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0813-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Dubois & Ena Inesi & Simona Botti & Derek D. Rucker & Adam D. Galinsky, 2011. "Power and Choice: Their Dynamic Interplay in Quenching the Thirst for Personal Control," Post-Print hal-00696608, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jesus Alfonso D. Datu & Charlie E. Labarda & Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga, 2020. "Flourishing is Associated with Achievement Goal Orientations and Academic Delay of Gratification in a Collectivist Context," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1171-1182, April.

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