Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate how subordinates evaluate powerholders who used much and severe power in terms of coercive and legitimate power. Subjects, thirty-two female undergraduates, who played subordinate role were asked to engage in doing the Sociograms as a working task. While performing the task, half of them were supervised by the power holders who exercised much severe power (High Power Condition). Half of them were supervised by the powerholders who exercised less power (Low Power Condition).
Results showed, as predicted, that the severity of power (coercive, legitimate) used by powerholders had significant impact on subordinates' evaluation to powerholders. Compared to the low power condition, subordinates in the high power condition showed less familiarity to powerholders both in the first half and the second half, and began to claim longer social distance to them in the second half.
