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Power, Status, Legitimacy, and Shame in Organizations

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The power-status theory of emotions posits that emotions arise out of a process in which people compare the levels of status and power that they experience against some standard of status and power adequacy. Power-status theory is effective at predicting emotions, but it does not formally specify a structural mechanism that explains how actors determine what constitutes adequate or inadequate power and status. The authors argue that legitimacy, or the notion that actors have a right to expect compliance and deference, serves as this mechanism. Focusing on shame, the authors illustrate that perceived losses in legitimacy mediate a substantial portion of the links among status loss, power loss, and shame. The authors also find that legitimacy mediates the relationship between a person’s position within an organization and the shame they experience when their status and power are challenged. These findings advance power-status theory by providing a structural standard for status and power adequacy that explains how losses in status and power generate emotional outcomes.

Source: Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World

DOI: 10.1177/23780231261438914

Authors: Joseph Dippong, Stephanie Moller, Leah Ruppanner, Jill Yavorsky

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, The University of Melbourne

Language: English

Topic: Social Power and Status Dynamics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,000