Children imitate the powerful because holding power itself is reinforcing.

Evidence

But social learning almost certainly plays a strong hand, too, even if we have had to release for the moment one of the usual suspects—being physically punished while a child—for lack of evidence. We have known since Bandura, Ross, and Ross (1963) that children find social power attractive, and imitate those who have it. And few things can be as reinforcing as holding power, because it means you have the Law of Effect in a hammer lock. Reduced to its essence, having power means getting more of the rewards in life, and fewer of the punishments. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1066

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains why power is self-reinforcing via the Law of Effect: more rewards, fewer punishments.
• XREF: connects to: Class power structures reproduce the infantile situation, making submission to rulers appear rational. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 221; Classroom interactions act like root metaphors, transmitting power-laden assumptions students internalize. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse,…, 761; A charismatic leader can give isolated youth the sense of existing through group power. — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America:…, 376