Personal Sense of Power (PSP)

Personal sense of power (PSP) is first forming a general perception of possessing high or low power within interpersonal relationships, then applying it to individual relationships and social situations. This perception is subjective and may/may not reflect actual power within specific relationships. High PSP is characterized by a focus on self-control, self-efficacy, internal resources, and influencing others through competence and respect, rather than through control (also see exploitativeness). It’s linked to confidence in decision-making, taking initiative, and stress tolerance, as well as charisma, rather than an external position of authority. An employee might make a decisions without a formal position or responsibility to do so, thus experiencing a high PSP. While PSP is moderately consistent across relationships, it can be different with a friend than it is with a parent, for example. Research shows PSP had the strongest positive associations with narcissism, dominance, self-esteem, and authentic pride—suggesting this sense is linked to overall positive self-evaluations. And it showed the strongest negative association with neuroticism, suggests that emotional stability could lead to or might be a consequence of personal power (as well as depression or anxiety).