title: Why leaders punish: A power perspective.
abstract: We propose that power fundamentally changes why leaders punish and we develop a theoretical model that specifies how and why this occurs. Specifically, we argue that power increases the reliance on deterrence, but not just deserts, as a punishment motive and relate this to power fostering a distrustful mindset. We tested our model in 9 studies using different instantiations of power, different measurements and manipulations of distrust while measuring punishment motives and recommended punishments across a number of different situations. These 9 studies demonstrate that power fosters distrust and hereby increases both the reliance on deterrence as a punishment motive and the implementation of punishments aimed at deterrence (i.e., public punishments, public naming of rule breakers and punishments with a mandatory minimum). We discuss the practical implications for leaders, managers and policymakers and the theoretical implications for scholars interested in power, trust, and punishments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mooijman
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Wilco W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ellemers
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology*; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult