Abstract

This study was conducted to explore perceptions of mother's and father's power and self-with-mother/father. In session one, college students responded to an open-ended questionnaire in which respondents identified powerful people in their lives and features they experienced when with each powerful people, and also provided which power the powerful people have had. In session 2, same students responded computer-assisted ratings(HICLAS) which required to rate whether 60 features described themselves when with each powerful people. The results showed as follows: First, mothers were perceived as powerful people as fathers, and they had more legitimate and reward power than coercive and referent power. Second, many students' self-with-parents were positive and powerful. But a few people experienced worst-self when with parents because of parents' coercive power. Third, in contrast female students experienced both masculine and feminine features when with parents, male students showed mainly masculine characteristics. The results were discussed in terms of status power and "empowerment", and of appropriate social role behavior.