The Use and Abuse of Power

From dyadic exchanges between individuals to conflicts between nations, power differences have been and continue to be part of virtually every human interaction. Its range of effects spans from extreme abuse to selfless benevolence. Despite its ubiquity and impact, power has been largely ignored as a factor in social psychological research. Very little is known about power's direct effects on the judgments and behavior of individuals and groups. In this volume, the works of prominent researchers are compiled to promote both a panoramic and multilevel understanding of this complex construct, with focus on power as a cause of social ills and remedies to prevent corruption and abuse. By gaining a broad scope of social power as seen through a variety of research perspectives, it may be possible to realize the extent of its effects and unearth fundamental elements of power that hold true across seemingly disparate areas of research.