Power Influence on People’s Perceptions

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Table of Contents

Summary, Methods, and Key Findings
Strengths of the Article
Extension from the Article to Past Work
Extensions from the Article to Future Work
Conclusion
References

Summary, Methods, and Key Findings

The research examines how power influences perceptions among people by employing two studies. The first study examines the effect of power on how one perceives objects and people. Hence, to ascertain how misperception occurs, the study selected 85 students (N = 85) in the first study.

In the second method, the research used face-to-face technique and selected 32 students (N = 32). In this method, powerful members controlled money or resources. Yap, Mason, and Ames (2013) report the results that, “powerful participants were more likely to underestimate (M = -0.57, SD = 0.95), and the powerless participants were more likely to overestimate (M = 0.64, SD = 1.64) the size of their participants” (p. 593).

Hence, the results demonstrate that power influences how individuals perceive others in society. Thus, the essay analyzes the article by examining its findings, strengths, an extension to past work, and extension to future work.

Strengths of the Article

The research has three major strengths, which enhances the validity and reliability of the findings, and thus enhance their generazability. First, the research used simple random sampling technique in study 1 to select respondents.

The simplest random technique is very important as it enables the researcher obtains valid findings and gives the respondents equal chances. Kumar (2010) notes that, “when selecting a sampling technique you should attempt to achieve two key aims; the avoidance of bias in the selection of a sample and attainment of maximum precision for a given outlay of resources” (p. 25).

Therefore, the simple random sampling technique gave respondents equal chance to participate in the study, and thus eliminate selection biases associated with researchers. Secondly, to increase the validity of the research, the study used two experiments. The experiments produced consistent results and confirmed that the results of the research were indeed practical. Finally, the use of questionnaires to collect data from the participants helped the researcher to collect information and even store them for future use.

Extension from the Article to Past Work

Past studies have tried to provide information regarding the relationship between physical appearance and the power asserted by an individual. According to Keltner (2003), researchers have put forward an opinion that visual systems are beneficial. Furthermore, researchers argue that the systems used as visuals are not recording machines. The research drew much of its precedent knowledge from past studies.

These studies indicate that people misconceive the power of individuals using their physical appearance such as height and size. According to the studies, individuals believe that if a person is either tall or huge, then the person is likely to command more power than those who have small bodies (Yap, Mason, and Ames, 2013).

Thus, powerful people may try to overestimate their physical size and weight. The misconception concerning power and physical appearance may make individuals who deem that they are not powerful to underestimate their sizes and abilities, hence resulting in low self-esteem from the individual.

In addition, the behavior is evident in animals such as chimpanzees that use their chests to display their body sizes and command some level of power. It is also clear in the other animals such as elephants that are animals with large bodies. In this case, the animals use their large body sizes to their advantage. Duguid (2012) states that human beings tend to assert power using size and weight in a non-verbal manner.

Thus, the society usually associates tall or fat individuals with positive aspects like success and prosperity. Since the perception of height and physical appearance is dependent on construction in the mind, individuals who are tall and huge usually feel superior to other members of the society. Therefore, they may overestimate their abilities and overlook their colleagues. The society believes that tall people or those with huge physical appearance are more suited leadership than their colleagues who have small bodies.

Furthermore, many societies use physical appearance, size, or weight of an individual as a tool of measuring the level of influence, attitudes, prospects, motivations, and societal standing of an individual. Notably, power is associated with some outcomes on the individual’s behavior.

Power leads to changes in the approach, judgment, and character of an individual. According to Keltner (2003), “there has been a surge of interest in the understanding of how power affects our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,” (p. 22).

When an individual supposes to command great power, the power initiates vigorous interactions that are interpersonal. Essentially, power leads to enhanced achievements and overall performance as it enhances self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, powerful people may undermine powerless individuals who have small bodies.

Extensions from the Article to Future Work

Power and Physical Appearance

The findings from the article are vital in providing solutions for future challenges. Scholars, Psychologists, and vision scientists can employ research findings and skills from the article to tackle and solve challenges. These challenges relate to misconceptions associated with power and personal stature.

Kring (2001) argues that the research demonstrates the importance of power and wrong perceptions of individuals on personal appearance and influence. In addition, the findings from the article clearly elucidate how power changes the way people think about others in a society.

It makes the society look at a person basing on their physical appearance using features such as height and weight. Furthermore, power can dictate how society looks at personal attributes, strengths, and weaknesses. It presents an opinion that associates power with people who are either tall or huge. The implications of the research affect individuals and societies.

Additionally, the findings of the research will also help psychologists and researchers identify the relationship between power and perceptions among individuals in society. Moreover, the article enables people to understand that misconceptions are constructs of the mind, which usually judge the power of a person using their sizes or physical appearance.

Furthermore, these findings bring to the fore a notion that exists in the minds of people and societies, which relates tall or huge individuals with power, influence, and success. Duguid (2012) highlights that huge or tall individuals tend to undermine people who are short or small bodied.

The act of undermining of small-bodied individuals is based on the wrong judgment that people with small bodies are powerless or weak. Therefore, the article is very instrumental as it provides insight to researchers, scholars, and other readers on matters regarding the effects of power and wrong perceptions of power and physical appearance.

Effect of Resources and Mood on the Power of Individuals

Despite societal beliefs and attitudes concerning the physical appearances of individuals and power they assert, other factors can also affect the power and influence of an individual. The article is very instrumental as it presents these factors, which include mood, money, or resources. In the second method used by the researcher, respondents had power over their colleagues as they had $10. Thus, those who had the money were able to claim a certain level of influence and control over those who did not have the money.

According to Yap, Mason, and Ames (2013), the experiment created a feeling of authority and control in the minds of participants by giving them the liberty to give some part of the $10 to their colleagues. Therefore, money or resources are some of the factors that can make a person to experience some level of authority, command, and influence over the other members of the society, irrespective of their body size, weight, or height.

Additionally, the findings from the article will be very important to scholars, psychologists, social scientists, researchers, and other individuals. The article will help them understand how one’s mood can affect the level of power that the person asserts in a society. The mood of an individual greatly determines the level to which a person controls or influences in a society regardless of the size or physical appearance.

Yap, Mason, and Ames (2013) explain that the mood of the members of a society affects their perception of the power of a person. Therefore, the mood of an individual or the society will greatly determine social interaction and organization between the person and other members of society. Hence, the individual is able to achieve personal and societal goals, objectives, and aims and enhance personal confidence and self-esteem irrespective of physical appearance.

Conclusion

Misconceptions or wrong perceptions of a person’s size and the power to control individuals have always existed in society since time immemorial. People usually believe that the height, weight, or physical appearance of a person is directly proportional to the power that an individual possesses.

However, this is a notion that only exists in the minds of individuals, as the size of a person cannot conclusively ascertain the power or authority asserted by an individual. Resources and emotions of the society or a person can affect the power dictated by an individual in the society irrespective of an individual’s size.

References

Duguid, M. (2012). Living Large: The Powerful Overestimate their Height. New York: SAGE Publisher.

Keltner, D. (2003). Power, Approach, and Inhibition. California: American Psychological Association.

Kring, M. (2001). Effects of Personality Traits and Physical Attractiveness in Social Groups. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Kumar. (2010). Research Methodology: A step-by-step Guide for Beginner. New York: SAGE Publisher.

Yap, A., Mason, M., & Ames, D. (2013). The Power Size Others Down: The Link between Power and Estimates of Others’ Size. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49(3), 591-594.

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