ABSTRACT

Most of social science disregards the important psychological feature of the propensity for one to yearn for power over others, and to derive pleasure from exercising this power once obtained, even if illicit means are used to acquire and apply the power. The inequality in the distribution of resources among people who know each other has an additional negative impact on human relations; the abuse of power by people known to a victim is particularly bitter. The violation of people's rights in the macro world is the subject of a steady flow of social studies, whereas the abuse of power inside social units by those who have more resources than others has only gained modest attention. Several forces participate in helping people who are suffering inside social units in the United States: the federal government, local governments, civil society, self-help organizations, and individuals.