The Psychology of Power: Busting Myths Power fascinates people. This may explain the insatiable interest of organisational and behavioural scholars in the psychology of power. This interest is undoubtedly also fuelled by the far-reaching and transformative e ects that power has on the individual. Indeed, most scholars would probably assert that power reduces inhibition and increases people’s focus on rewards, that power a ords autonomy, freedom and happiness, that power benefits cognitive performance, and that power also has a dark side and increases psychological distance. But does power really have all these e ects? In this talk, Prof. Mario Weick will challenge each of these popular assumptions and show that while power does indeed transform people, some of these assumptions may be myths and all are in need of qualification. With a focus on ‘busting myths’, the talk covers a range of key areas in the study of power and is geared towards novices and experts alike.
