Lecture on Power Distance

Introduction to Power Distance

• Term "power distance" first used by Dutch sociopsychologist Mark Bulder in the 1960s.
• Later adopted in the 1970s to describe differences between national societies.
• Definition: The extent to which the less powerful members of institutions expect and accept unequal power distribution.
• Power distance is determined by those at the bottom rather than those at the top.

Transmission of Power Distance in Society

• Present in parent-child relationships.
• Cultures can be categorized into large power distance and small power distance.
  • Large Power Distance: Inequality is seen as normal; superiors are viewed as superior beings.
  • Small Power Distance: Inequality is viewed as problematic; hierarchies are merely functional.

Characteristics of Power Distance

• Large Power Distance:
  • Power precedes the determination of good and evil.
  • Emphasis on respect in child-rearing.
  • Preference for centralization in organization.
  • Subordinates expect to be directed.
  • More income inequality, smaller middle class.
  • Political systems are often dictatorial or oligarchic.
  • Changes often require revolution.
  • Older business executives, fewer spontaneous innovations.
• Small Power Distance:
  • Legitimate use of power is emphasized.
  • Emphasis on independence in child-rearing.
  • Preference for decentralization in organization.
  • Subordinates expect to be consulted.
  • Less income inequality, larger middle class.
  • Political systems uphold separation of powers, resolve conflicts peacefully.
  • Political changes occur gradually through evolution.
  • Younger business executives, more frequent innovations from mavericks.

Measuring Societal Power Distances

• Power Distance Index (PDI) measures the relative power distance between societies.
• Scale from 0 to 100: Lower scores indicate smaller power distance; higher scores indicate larger power distance.
• Examples of countries:
  • High PDI: Russia, Mexico, China, Arab countries, India, France.
  • Low PDI: United States, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Britain, Denmark.

Validation and Correlates of Power Distance

• Validation: Comparison with societal phenomena measured by others.
• Higher PDI correlates with more income inequality, smaller middle class, dictatorial systems, potential for violence.
• Lower PDI correlates with legitimate use of power, larger middle class, peaceful conflict resolution.

Change Over Time

• Scores are stable as values are transferred across generations and rarely change after childhood.
• Research indicates a slight shift towards smaller power distances over 30 years.
• Country positions relative to each other have remained stable, grounded in historical differences.