Power Motive (TAT/PSE-derived items)
Psychology: PersonalityReliability: depends on coding scheme1 sample item
About this scale
A measure of implicit power motive — the unconscious desire to influence others — typically derived from picture-story exercise (PSE/TAT) coding rather than self-report. Standard Winter (1973/1991) coding system is widely used.
Sample item(s)
“TAT/PSE pictures are presented; participants write stories which are coded for power-related themes (e.g., strong control of others, prestige)”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: depends on coding scheme. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Implicit measure; requires trained coders. Self-report alternatives include the Personality Research Form (PRF) Dominance scale.
Source & citation
Winter, D. G. (1991): Manual for scoring motive imagery in running text (4th ed.). Department of Psychology, University of Michigan.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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