Social Psychology of Power

Ana Guinote, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at University College London, United Kingdom. Her research and publications focus on power, status, and minorities—in particular, how social asymmetries affect basic and high-order cognition, and how this in turn affects goal pursuit, social judgments, behavior variability, and responsiveness to situational affordances. Dr. Guinote is an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Social Psychology and serves on the Steering Committee of the European Social Cognition Network. Theresa K. Vescio, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research and publications address the relation between power and the expression of sexism, racism, ageism, and heterosexism. Dr. Vescio is a recipient of the Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize, awarded by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Division 9 of the American Psychological Association. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes and serves on the editorial boards of several other journals in the field.

Quite possibly the single most indispensable work on the dynamics of power. Approaching the problem of power from the vantage points of diverse theories, the contributors illuminate the workings of power--how it is understood in the minds of those with and without power, how it guides the actions of individuals and groups, and how it is woven into the fabric of society. A 'must read' for students and scholars alike, this book makes clear why, as Bertrand Russell observed many years ago, power is the fundamental concept of social science.--Mark Snyder, PhD, McKnight Presidential Chair in Psychology and Director, Center for the Study of the Individual and Society, University of MinnesotaGuinote and Vescio have assembled a distinguished collection of scholars to offer a current and comprehensive analysis. The volume sheds new light on a traditionally central topic in psychology. The quality of the chapters is excellent, and collectively the volume provides new theoretical perspectives and insights. This well-structured volume will make a significant and lasting contribution.--John F. Dovidio, PhD, Department of Psychology, Yale UniversityThis volume takes theory and research on power a huge step forward. Coverage ranges from basic mechanisms and conceptual issues to consequences of power. It spans multiple levels of analysis, looking at how power is implicated in social perception, social interaction, and intergroup relations. This book synthesizes research in the field to date and will define the study of power in social psychology for years to come.--Miles Hewstone, PhD, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom - An excellent reference source for those seeking a comprehensive survey of the latest literature on the topic. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. --Choice, 12/3/2010

• Introduction: Power in Social Psychology, Ana Guinote and Theresa K. VescioI. Concepts, Theoretical Perspectives, and Basic Mechanisms1. Concepts and Historical Perspectives on Power, Jennifer R. Overbeck2. The Emergence of Simple and Complex Power Structures through Social Niche Construction, Christopher Boehm and Jessica C. Flack3. Dominance and Health: The Role of Social Rank in Physiology and Illness, Jacqueline J. Rivers and Robert A. Josephs4. Power in the Person: Exploring the Motivational Underground of Power, David G. Winter5. The Situated Focus Theory of Power, Ana GuinoteII. Power in Interaction: The Negotiation of a Shared Reality 6. Paradoxes of Power: Dynamics of the Acquisition, Experience, and Social Regulation of Social Power, Dacher Keltner, Deborah Gruenfeld, Adam Galinsky, and Michael W. Kraus7. Paradoxical Power Manifestations: Power Assertion by the Subjectively Powerless, Daphne Blunt Bugental8. Power and Social Perception, Ann Marie Russell and Susan T. Fiske9. Legitimacy, Social Identity, and Power, Russell Spears, Ronni Greenwood, Soledad de Lemus, and Joseph Sweetman 10. Power as Charismatic Leadership: A Significant Opportunity (and a Modest Proposal) for Social Psychology Research, Francis J. FlynnIII. Power in Intergroup Relations11. The System Justification Motive and the Maintenance of Social Power, Aaron C. Kay, Jillian Chalmers Banfield, and Kristin Laurin12. Power and Racism, P. J. Henry and Felicia Pratto13. Power and Sexism, Theresa K. Vescio, Kristine A. Schlenker, and Joshua G. Lenes14. Immigration and Power, Kay Deaux and Nida Bikmen15. Social Class and Power, Heather E. Bullock and Bernice Lott16. Power: New Understandings and Future Directions, Theresa K. Vescio and Ana Guinote