10 minutes with Geert Hofstede... on Power Distance 10112014
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the concept of power distance, first introduced by Dutch psychologist Mark Bu, as a cultural dimension reflecting the acceptance of unequal power distribution in societies. It contrasts large and small power distance societies, highlighting differences in values, behaviors, and societal structures. The Power Distance Index (PDI) measures these societal differences on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater inequality. The script also discusses the correlation of PDI with various societal phenomena, such as income inequality and political systems, and notes a gradual shift towards smaller power distances over generations, while maintaining country-specific positions.
Takeaways
- 📚 The term 'power distance' was first used by Dutch social psychologist Mark Bu in the 1960s to describe societal power relations.
- 🌐 Power distance index (PDI) measures the extent to which less powerful members of institutions accept power inequality in society.
- 👶 Power distance is ingrained in societies through the relationship dynamics between children and their parents.
- 🌈 The script contrasts 'large power distance' societies, where inequality is considered normal, with 'small power distance' societies, where inequality is seen as wrong and should be reduced.
- 🧐 In large power distance societies, superiors are seen as inherently superior beings, unlike in small power distance societies where hierarchy is seen as necessary but not inherently superior.
- 🏛 Power in large power distance societies is seen as determining what is good and evil, while in small power distance societies, power is expected to be used legitimately under the same legal framework.
- 👨👧 Respect is a key learning for children in large power distance societies, whereas independence is emphasized in small power distance societies.
- 🏢 Large power distance societies prefer centralization, while small power distance societies favor decentralization.
- 💼 In large power distance societies, subordinates expect to be told what to do, whereas in small power distance societies, they expect to be consulted.
- 📊 PDI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater power distance and lower scores indicating less power distance.
- 🔄 The script suggests that while there is a slight shift towards smaller power distances over time, the relative positions of countries remain stable, indicating the enduring nature of these cultural traits.
Q & A
Who first used the term 'power distance'?
-The term 'power distance' was first used in the 1960s by a Dutch social psychologist named Mark Bu.
What is the definition of power distance according to the script?
-Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
How does power distance manifest in societal relationships?
-Power distance is present in the relationship between children and parents, where children learn a position towards their parents and other older people in their environment.
What is the difference between large power distance and small power distance societies?
-In large power distance societies, inequality is considered a normal part of society, and superiors are seen as superior beings. In contrast, in small power distance societies, inequality is seen as wrong and should be reduced if possible, and hierarchies are seen as necessary for order but do not imply superiority of the superiors.
How does power distance affect the perception of good and evil in a society?
-In large power distance societies, power comes first, and good and evil come afterwards, meaning who has power determines what is considered good or evil. In small power distance societies, power should be used legitimately, and everyone is under the same rules of law.
What is the role of respect in the education of children in large power distance societies?
-In large power distance societies, respect is one of the most important things a child can learn, emphasizing the importance of hierarchy and obedience.
How does power distance influence the organization of societies?
-Large power distance societies tend to favor centralization, while small power distance societies prefer decentralization.
What is the typical relationship between subordinates and their boss in large power distance societies?
-In large power distance societies, subordinates expect to be told what to do by their bosses, reflecting a more directive leadership style.
How is societal power distance measured?
-Societal power distance is measured by an index called the Power Distance Index (PDI), which is plotted on a scale from 0 to 100, with scores close to zero indicating smaller power distance and scores close to 100 indicating larger power distance.
How do power distance index scores correlate with societal phenomena?
-High PDI scores correlate with more income inequality, smaller middle class, and higher likelihood of dictatorships or oligarchies. Low PDI scores correlate with less income inequality, larger middle class, and more peaceful conflict resolution.
Do power distance index scores change over time?
-While there can be a shift towards smaller power distances over time, the relative position of countries to each other remains largely the same, indicating that these scores are relatively stable over time.
Outlines
🌐 Power Distance in Society: Definition and Cultural Impact
This paragraph introduces the concept of power distance, a cultural dimension first used by Dutch psychologist Mark Bu in the 1960s. It defines power distance as the extent to which less powerful members of institutions accept unequal power distribution. The speaker contrasts large power distance societies, where inequality is normalized, with small power distance societies, which view inequality as problematic. The influence of power distance is evident in various societal aspects, including the relationship between children and parents, the perception of authority, and the approach to education and innovation. Large power distance societies tend to favor centralization and hierarchical roles, whereas small power distance societies value decentralization and consultation in decision-making. The paragraph also touches on the measurement of power distance through the Power Distance Index (PDI), which is plotted on a scale from 0 to 100.
📊 Power Distance Index (PDI): Comparative Analysis and Validation
The speaker presents a table comparing the PDI scores of various countries, highlighting the higher power distance countries like Russia, Mexico, China, and some Arab countries, and the lower power distance countries including the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The paragraph delves into the validation of PDI scores through statistical correlation with societal phenomena, such as income inequality, the size of the middle class, political systems, and the propensity for violence or peaceful conflict resolution. It also discusses the correlation between PDI and the age of business executives, innovation frequency, and the method of political system change, suggesting that large power distance societies are more likely to experience revolutions, while low power distance societies evolve more gradually. The speaker raises the question of whether these scores change over time, indicating that while there may be a slight shift towards smaller power distances, the relative positions of countries remain consistent.
🕰 Stability and Change in Power Distance Over Generations
This paragraph discusses the stability of power distance scores over time, emphasizing that these values are deeply ingrained from childhood and rarely change throughout a person's life. It references research by a professor from Kronan University, who compared responses from two generations, 30 years apart, and found a slight shift towards smaller power distances. However, the relative positions of countries have remained the same, indicating a collective movement. The speaker suggests that these scores are rooted in historical differences and are likely to remain stable, as they are part of the cultural fabric passed down through generations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Power Distance
💡Societal Culture
💡Power Relations
💡Hierarchy
💡Power Distance Index (PDI)
💡Legitimacy of Power
💡Inequality
💡Centralization vs. Decentralization
💡Subordinates
💡Validation
💡Innovation
Highlights
The term 'power distance' was first used by Dutch social psychologist Mark Bu in the 1960s.
Power distance describes the extent to which less powerful members accept power being distributed unequally.
Power distance is influenced by societal culture and is present in relationships such as those between children and parents.
Large power distance societies view inequality as normal, while small power distance societies see it as something to be reduced.
In large power distance societies, superiors are seen as superior beings, unlike in small power distance societies.
Large power distance societies prioritize power first, with morality following, whereas small power distance societies believe in legitimate power use.
In education, large power distance societies emphasize respect, while small power distance societies focus on independence.
Large power distance societies prefer centralization, while small power distance societies favor decentralization.
Subordinates in large power distance societies expect to be told what to do, unlike those in small power distance societies who expect consultation.
The Power Distance Index (PDI) measures societal power distances on a scale from 0 to 100.
Countries with higher PDI scores include Russia, Mexico, China, and France, while those with lower scores include the United States, Netherlands, and Denmark.
PDI scores correlate with phenomena such as income inequality, class structure, and political systems.
High PDI societies are more likely to have dictatorships or oligarchies, while low PDI societies have more legitimate power use.
Large power distance societies are more prone to political violence, while small power distance societies resolve conflicts peacefully.
In large power distance societies, political systems change through revolution, while in small power distance societies, they evolve more slowly.
Business executives in large power distance societies tend to be older, while those in small power distance societies are younger.
Innovations in large power distance societies require hierarchical support, while in small power distance societies, they can be spontaneous.
PDI scores have shown a slight shift towards smaller power distances over the past 30 years, but country positions relative to each other have remained stable.
PDI scores are influenced by historical values and are likely to be stable over time.
Transcripts
[Music]
the term power distance was used as far
as I know for the first time in the
1960s by a Dutch social psychologist
Mark bu
who did experiments with uh individuals
whom we gave different power
relationss and in the
1970s uh I have borrowed the term uh
when I wanted to describe differences
between National
societies now the my definition of power
distance as a dimension of societal
culture is the following it is the
extent to which the less powerful
members of Institutions and
organizations expect and accept that
power is distributed
unequally so the power distance lies
with the people at the bottom and not
with the people at the top there's
always somebody who wants to take the
position at the Top If the people at the
bottom let her or him do it but um it's
only if the people at the bottom accept
it that this can be
done uh how does power distance transfer
itself in a society well it is present
in the relationship between the children
and the parents the children learn a
position towards the parents and other
older people in their
environment now here I have a opposition
of the two extremes and most countries I
must say most cultures are some in
between but uh I put on the one side
large power distance on the other side
small power distance in large power
distance inequality in a society is
considered a normal part of society
that's the way the world is made in a
small power distance the idea is that
inequality is somewhere wrong and it
should be reduced if
possible in large power distance the
feeling is that superiors are Act
Superior beings they are different kind
of people whereas in small power
distance the idea is that okay there are
hierarchist but the hierarchist are
somewhat the rules of the game you need
it to create order but it doesn't mean
that the superiors are also Superior and
sometimes you can change
roles then in large power distance the
feeling is that power comes first and
good and evil comes afterwards
um so first you know who has the power
and then you decide what is good and
what is evil in the small power distance
the feeling is that power should be used
legitimately and everybody on the top on
the bottom is actually uh under the same
rules of law in the education of
children and the large priorties inside
respect is one of the most important
things a child can learn on the small
power distance side IND dependence is
one of the most important things a child
can
learn in the organizing large power
distance societies they love
centralization and small power distance
societies love
decentralization and finally the
relationship between the subordinates
and their boss in the large PR dist
societies subordinates simply assume
expect that they will be told what to do
in the small power distance sociey
subordinate when it relates to their
work they expect to be
consulted now how do we measure societal
power
distances there is no absolute standard
uh we know that all societies are
unequal but some are more unequal than
others this of course is a pun on a
sentence from George Orwell Animal Farm
all animals are equal but some are more
equal than others but what we measure is
the difference between one society and
another the position of societies
relative to each other is measured by an
index the power distance index
PDI and these are plotted on a scale
from 0 to 100 and scores close to zero
stands for a smaller power distance and
scores close to 100 stand for a larger
power
distance now here I have made a table
off for a few countries actually we have
data for 76 countries but I only took uh
14 countries here uh and you can see on
the one side the countries with the
higher power distance with on the top
Russia and then it's followed by Mexico
China the Arab countries India and from
the European an countries the largest
power distances are in France and then
comes Japan Japan is not really very
high it's just about the break even and
then just below the break even is Italy
now we get to the low side then okay we
get to United States we get the
Netherlands we get Australia we got
Germany we got Britain and the very low
one here is
Denmark now what can we do with this
power distance index well you can
validate it and what does validating
mean validating means is you have these
numbers and you are going to compare
them statistically with phenomena in
society phenomena that are measured by
other people and and other ways actually
hard data from society and that is done
by
correlation and I have made a small list
of things power distance index scores
correlate with
on the high side more income inequality
on the low side less income
inequality on the high side a smaller
middle class a larger lower class on the
low side a larger middle class actually
most people are middle
class on the ipdi side um you find the
dictatorships and if this it isn't
dictatorship it's an oligarchy oligarchy
means that there are a limited number of
people from whom the power comes on the
low po side the use of power should be
legitimate they have the Trias politica
which means the legislative the judicial
and the executive power which are
separated and the people at the top the
executive top they all also subject to
the two other
powers in the large power distance side
in politics you got a big chance of
violence as often there is fighting in
local Politics on the low power Lance
side
most conflicts are res resolved
peacefully on the large power distance
side in order to change a political
system usually you need a revolution but
the Paradox about Revolution utions is
revolutions lead to the fact that you
got another face on the top but not
necessarily that the system itself
changes on the uh low power L side
political systems change slower they
change by Evolution and evolution in
general means that yes there is a
change then another bit of research has
demonstrated that in large PR distance
countries business executive tend to be
older if people are in power they stay
in power longer until they're a lot
older whereas in the low power liness
societies business Executives tend to be
younger and the last one I selected is
how Innovations come about Innovations
either social Innovations or
technological innovations that come
about in a large power distant Society
only when they are supported by the
hierarchy whereas in the low power dist
societies we have spontaneous
Innovations there are people who come
with original IDs we call them Mavericks
or Rebels and they come with Innovations
which therefore are more frequent in low
power dist and
societies the last question I want to
raise which people often ask is but
don't these scores change over
time well first of all there is a reason
why anyway they will not change very
quickly because they are transferred as
I said from parents to children and
after childhood these values rarely
change people carry them with them for
their entire life now there is a
interesting research project by a
professor from kronan University sh bkl
who has compared answers to questions
correlated with power distance for two
successive generations and the answers
are from the world value survey and the
generations are 30 years apart the first
generation is about the time that my
first research was done and the second
generation is not long ago and uh what
he shows is that if you look at the
scores of that older generation and the
younger generation there is a shift
towards smaller power distances over
these 30 years
uh not a very big shift but there is a
shift but the position of countries
relative to each other has remained the
same they have been moving together and
this is precisely what the scores are
based on so the scores don't
change country differences expressed in
the scores are also often rooted in
history you can find Historical stories
from centuries ago where you say well
this was the difference between Britain
and Germany at the time and look how it
is now so the scores can be assumed to
be stable over time
[Music]
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