Parental Identification by the Adolescent: A Social Power Approach

A social power theory of parental identification is presented, in contrast to sex-role theories of identification, which argues that the more parental power each parent is perceived to have, the higher the degree of adolescent identification with that parent. Parental power is delineated into four major dimensions for each parent: outcome-control, referent, legitimate and expert power. A self-report methodology was employed and from an availability sample (N=451), a purposive subsample (N=149) was drawn. Regression analyses support the social power theory of parental identification. However, in regard to the power dimensions for each parent, parental referent power is found to be the most salient variable, followed by parental expert and parental legitimate power. Few relationships are found for parental outcome-control power and parental identification. Furthermore, the lack of any consistent differentiation by sex is taken to indicate that perceived power is a more relevant variable for adolescents' parental identification.