Skip to main content

Sage Social Science Thesaurus

Search from vocabulary

Content language

Concept information

social science subjects > psychology > behavior mechanisms > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > psychology > behavior mechanisms > human development > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > psychology > behavior mechanisms > psychology and behavior > mental development and functions > personality > power motive
social science subjects > psychology > personality psychology > personality > power motive
social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > business and management > sociology of work > sociology of work encyc > social psychology of work > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > sociology > sociology of work > sociology of work encyc > social psychology of work > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > psychology > applied psychology > industrial psychology > understanding and assessing individual differences > personality > power motive
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > group dynamics > group influence > power (sociology) > power and social psychology > power motive
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > group dynamics > group influence > power (sociology) > types of power > power motive

Preferred term

power motive  

Definition

  • The power motive (also called n power, the need for power, or power motivation) is the operationally defined psychological term for what is often called the desire for power, the will to power (Nietzsche), the aggressive drive (Freud), or striving for superiority (Adler). The notions that power is a basic goal in human social life, and that individuals differ in the extent to which they seek power, can be found in many ancient and modern systems of thought. [Source: Encyclopedia of Power; Power Motive]

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/power_motive

Download this concept:

RDF/XML TURTLE JSON-LD