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The Spatial Power Motivation Scale: a semi-implicit measure of situational power motivation
Christiane Schoel1, Katharina Zimmer, Dagmar Stahlberg
1a Department of Social Psychology, School of Social Sciences University of Mannheim , Germany.
Abstract:
We introduce a new nonverbal and unobtrusive measure to assess power motive activation, the Spatial Power Motivation Scale (SPMS). The unique features of this instrument are that it is (a) very simple and economical, (b) reliable and valid, and (c) sensitive to situational changes. Study 1 demonstrates the instrument's convergent and discriminant validity with explicit measures. Study 2 demonstrates the instrument's responsiveness to situational power motive salience: anticipating and winning competition versus losing competition and watching television. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrate that thoughts of competition result in higher power motivation specifically for individuals with a high dispositional power motive.
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