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Chapter 7 - King Lear

from Part II - Thought Experiments and the Power of Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2021

Fathali M. Moghaddam
Fathali M. Moghaddam
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
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Summary

The play King Lear is a thought experiment on sudden and drastic changes in power distribution and the consequent changes in the behavior of the individuals who have changed power positions. The change in power distribution serves as the independent variable, with the behavioral changes that follow serving as dependent variables. King Lear impulsively decides to abandon his royal duties, but not necessarily his royal privileges. He hands over his duties and his properties to his two older daughters; his third daughter is disinherited because she fails to subserviently express devotion to him. But the influence of the power shifts on the three daughters is not according to Lear’s plans: the two older daughters turn against him, while his youngest, disinherited daughter remains loyal. In line with psychological research on power and corruption, some individuals who gain absolute power become absolutely corrupt.

Keywords

Power distributionrights and dutiespower and behaviorcontext and personalitypersonality change
Type
Chapter
Information
Shakespeare and the Experimental Psychologist , pp. 104 - 117
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • King Lear
  • Fathali M. Moghaddam, Georgetown University, Washington DC
  • Book: Shakespeare and the Experimental Psychologist
  • Online publication: 10 June 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108868945.008
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  • King Lear
  • Fathali M. Moghaddam, Georgetown University, Washington DC
  • Book: Shakespeare and the Experimental Psychologist
  • Online publication: 10 June 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108868945.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • King Lear
  • Fathali M. Moghaddam, Georgetown University, Washington DC
  • Book: Shakespeare and the Experimental Psychologist
  • Online publication: 10 June 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108868945.008
Available formats
×