The power motive in women—and men.

Previous studies and original research on the power motive (n Power) in women show no sex differences in the ways in which the power motive is aroused, in average levels of n Power, or in relationships between n Power and getting formal social power, power-related careers, and prestige. While in women n Power does not predict the "profligate impulsive" behaviors that it often does in men (drinking, aggression, sexual exploitation), a closer analysis shows that for both sexes having younger siblings and/or having children—interpreted as proxy variables for responsibility training—moderate the relationship between n Power and profligate (versus leadership) behaviors. Thus to some extent socialization experience rather than gender determines the channels of expression of power motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)