The psychological rewards from using power to harm others: An experimental study

• In Event: Examining Gender Inequality through the Lens of Social Psychology

Abstract

In this paper, we seek to identify the psychological rewards (separate from material rewards) people experience when they use power to harm others. Using self-determination theory as a guiding framework, we hypothesize that harming someone else may increase an individual’s sense of autonomy, efficacy, and/or significance. Here, we conduct 3 experiments designed to threaten these motivations: participants’ sense of autonomy (experiment 1), sense of efficacy (experiment 2), and significance (experiment 3). We then provide an opportunity for participants to subtly harm someone else. We hypothesize that those in the experimental condition (i.e., those who have had their autonomy, efficacy, or significance threatened) will be more likely to perpetrate harm than participants in the contrast condition. We then investigate the psychological rewards participants receive from harming. We hypothesize that among participants randomly assigned to the experimental condition, those who chose to harm another person will have a greater sense of autonomy, efficacy, and/or significance compared to those who chose not to harm another person. This research sheds light on the psychological rewards people receive from using power to harm others, pointing the way toward potential interventions to reduce the use of harm in interpersonal interactions.

Authors

• Christianne Corbett, University of Arkansas

• Charles Steven Grugan, University of Arkansas

• Chase Jon Freeman, University of Arkansas

• Eliza Staton

• Cecilia L. Ridgeway, Stanford University