Abuse of power in institutions: Study shows alarming acceptance!

Abuse of power in institutions: Study shows alarming acceptance!

In a recent study by behavioral economists University of Mannheim, the Humboldt University of Berlin and Maastricht University, the phenomenon of abuse of power in institutions is examined in detail. The results of the study, entitled “Normative Acceptance of Power Abuse,” were published in the journal Kyklos and shed critical light on the reactions of victims in situations of abuse of power.

The aim of the study was to analyze the reactions of people who interacted in artificial small groups with a clear distribution of power. In this experiment, a person was allowed to impose sanctions on other members of the group while at the same time not having to follow their own rules. It turned out that people who had themselves been victims of abuse of power rated such behavior as less inappropriate than other participants without similar experience. This indicates a growing acceptance of abuse of power in institutions.

Long-term effects and acceptance

The study suggests that victims of abuse of power often tend to justify this behavior in order to adapt to the circumstances. In the long term, these adjustments could lead to abuse of power in institutions being perceived as a normal reality. The experimental study took place in the Bonn DecisionLab with over 280 participants and was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Max Planck Society.

The work of Prof. Dr. Wladislaw Mill and his team clearly show how intra-institutional dynamics can reinforce existing power structures. The publication of this research could be crucial for further discussion and awareness about power relations in different institutional contexts.

Accompanying support and institutional insights

The study was carried out independently of the university by the IPP Munich. The internal university coordination was carried out by Barbara Klöver and Maren Rose, who were also responsible for communicating the results. An accompanying group, which was formed on the recommendation of the IPP Munich, was composed of members of various status groups. Their goal was to focus on the specific challenges of artistic training.

The members of the accompanying group included, among others, Prof. Saskia Fikentscher, Prof. Dr. Andrea Sangiorgio and the student representatives, who worked together on the feedback and qualitative analysis of the results. The external psychologist and lawyer Dr. Giulietta Tibone was brought in to advise the institution on issues such as sexual violence and abuse of power.

Contextualization through research literature

Another relevant area that deals with power and abuse in institutions is discussed in the monograph "Power and Abuse in Institutions. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Institutional Contexts and Prevention Strategies". Edited by Helmut Willems and Dieter Ferring, the work deals with various dimensions of abuse of power, particularly in contexts such as residential education, schools and nursing homes. Pedagogy specialist portal offers comprehensive information about the causes and prevention strategies against sexual abuse in institutions.

The results of the latest study, as well as the comprehensive ideas about institutional abuse of power, create a much-needed discourse and call on everyone involved to consider how power structures influence the perception of abuse and how preventative measures can be developed.