Resource control and status as stimuli for arousing power motivation: An American-Chinese comparison |
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Authors: | Isabel Ng David G Winter Pablo Cardona |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Business Administration School of Management, Fudan University, Room 415, Siyuan Building, 670 Guoshun Road, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China;(2) Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA;(3) IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain |
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Abstract: | In this paper, we analyze power motivation from a cross-cultural perspective. Power motivation has been mainly studied within
the Western culture. However, previous research suggests that some contours and nuances of power and power motivation may
be culturally specific. In this article, we analyze cultural differences between American and Chinese students in how power
motivation is aroused. Drawing from the cross-cultural literature, we propose that having decision-making control over resources
increases levels of power motivation among Americans but not Chinese, whereas status-elevation increases power motivation
among both Americans and Chinese. These hypotheses were tested experimentally with resource-control, status-elevation, and
neutral conditions. The first hypothesis was fully supported, but the second one was only partially supported. Levels of power
motivation in the neutral condition (i.e., dispositional power motives) were similar for American and Chinese participants,
but power motivation arousal was greater for Americans than Chinese, in both power arousal conditions. These findings contribute
to our understanding of the power motivation construct in a non-Western context. |
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