<p>History has shown that people who embody
responsibility-focused power have been credibly accused of sexual harassment
(SH). We seek to understand why. Drawing on Power-Approach Theory (Keltner et
al., 2003) and moral licensing theory (Effron & Monin, 2010) we present two
complementary studies examining how responsibility-focused power triggers moral
licensing, which, in turn, decreases perceptions of SH (Study 1) and increases
intentions to engage in SH (Study 2). In
Study 1, 376 adults read scenarios of a man who embodies responsibility-focused
power, egocentric power, or low power and then made moral crediting ratings (a
form of moral licensing). Then they read
a case where the man had been accused of SH.
SH judgments against the responsibility-focused power holder, compared
to others, were less severe, and several effects were mediated by moral
crediting. In Study 2, 310 adults were primed to experience
responsibility-focused power or low power. Responsibility-focused power
increased SH intentions through effects on communal feelings and moral
crediting. This research develops a new theoretical perspective on why SH
occurs and why we deny perceiving it. We provide practical recommendations for
abating the effects of power and moral licensing. </p>
Emic and etic aspects of sexual harassment perceptions in Turkey