INTRODUCTION

This revised scoring manual for the power motive is parallel to the earlier scoring systems for the achievement and affiliation motives, as well as the original power motive manual developed by Veroff (1957; see chapter 20). Essentially two tasks confront the scorer. First, is there evidence that the story contains any concern about power? Thus the scorer first searches for evidence of power concern, according to the criteria listed in this chapter for scoring Power Imagery. Second, how extensive or elaborated is the power concern? If the story is concerned with power and has been scored for Power Imagery, the scorer then goes on to search for the presence of subcategories that elaborate the basic power concern. If Power Imagery has not been scored, then the scorer simply proceeds to the next story.

The subcategories are organized in a logical manner around a behavioral sequence. The scorer may find it helpful to keep the behavioral sequence in mind as an aid to scoring the subcategories. The power behavioral sequence originates in persons who experience a state of need or desire (N). They take action (I) toward a goal. Blocks or obstacles (Bw) may interfere with the action. They may anticipate attainment of the goal (Ga+) or failure (Ga−).