What qualifies as abuse of power?

Asked by: Celestine Durgan  |  Last update: January 29, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (2 votes)

Abuse of power is the misuse of authority by someone in a higher position (like a boss, official, or leader) to unfairly control, exploit, manipulate, or harm those with less power, often for personal gain or to achieve unethical ends, affecting individuals, organizations, or governments. This can manifest as bullying, corruption, discrimination, or forcing illegal acts, leading to negative impacts like damaged morale, reduced productivity, and mental health issues for victims.

What counts as abuse of power?

A simple definition of the abuse of power is the misuse of a position of power to take unjust advantage of individuals, organizations, or governments.

What is an example of abuse of power?

Abuse of Power Examples

Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force/violence such as hitting, shoving, or kicking against another person without their consent. One example of physical abuse of power in leadership is when a leader uses their physical stature to intimidate or threaten subordinates.

What are examples of abuse of authority?

Examples of abuse of authority include:

  • Unfair delegation of duties or request that an employee undertake personal services unrelated to their official duties;
  • Excessive supervision and over-checking of a person's work;

What is the legal abuse of power?

Abuse of power or abuse of authority, in the form of "malfeasance in office" or "official abuse of power", is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties.

What is an Abuse of Power

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Can I sue someone for abuse of power?

If you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse of power, there are a few things you can do. You can file a police report, contact an attorney, or file a lawsuit.

What are the 7 signs of emotional abuse?

The 7 signs of emotional abuse often center on control, isolation, criticism, gaslighting, manipulation, disregard for your feelings, and possessiveness, leading you to feel demeaned, confused, and constantly walking on eggshells, with patterns including constant put-downs, isolating you from friends, making you doubt your reality, controlling your actions, giving the silent treatment, extreme jealousy, and blame-shifting. 

What is a victim of abuse of power?

The person who suffers from the abuse or mistreatment or exploitation or from any power from politicians is victim of abuse of power. It can be seen in very level of the society and in various forms.

What constitutes abuse of dominance?

Dominance is not considered bad per se but its abuse is. Abuse is stated to occur when an enterprise or a group of enterprises uses its dominant position in the relevant market in an exclusionary or/ and an exploitative manner.

What is the difference between misuse and abuse of power?

Abuse of one's power may encroach upon others' liberties and rights causing collateral damage. Misuse of power, in layman terms, can be defined as use of power for purpose other than that prescribed by law.

What are HR trigger words?

HR trigger words are terms that alert Human Resources to potential policy violations, serious workplace issues like harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, or a hostile work environment, and significant risks like lawsuits, high turnover, or burnout, prompting investigation or intervention, while other buzzwords like "quiet quitting" signal cultural trends. Using them signals a serious concern requiring HR's immediate attention for compliance and employee safety, though overly negative or absolute language can also be flagged. 

What is an example of abuse of power in a relationship?

Domestic violence involves a range of behaviors which can include physical and sexual violence; using coercion and threats; using intimidation; using emotional abuse, using isolation; minimizing, denying and blaming; using children; using male privilege; and using economic abuse.

Is there a difference between misuse and abuse?

Abuse refers to the harmful or excessive use of a substance or behavior, often leading to negative consequences for oneself or others. Misuse is a broader term that encompasses both intentional and unintentional use of a substance or behavior in a way that is not intended or prescribed.

What is meant by abuse of power?

Abuse of power refers to someone in a position of authority who harasses, bullies, manipulates, punishes or otherwise physically or emotionally harms those in a lower position. The term also applies to someone who uses a position of authority to force others to take actions that are illegal or morally wrong.

Is abuse of power harassment?

Power harassment is a form of harassment and workplace bullying in which someone in a position of greater power uses that power unjustifiably against a lower-ranking person, typically just for a display of dominance.

What is the tort of abuse of power?

Abuse of power can manifest through various forms, such as bullying, harassment, or manipulation, often leading to psychological harm. In legal contexts, establishing abuse of power often requires showing that the perpetrator had the authority to act in a certain way and misused that authority.

What constitutes abuse of authority?

(1) The term “abuse of authority” means an arbitrary and capricious exercise of authority that is inconsistent with the mission of the executive agency concerned or the successful performance of a contract or grant of such agency.

What is exclusionary abuse?

Exclusionary abuses relate to conduct by which dominant undertakings undermine the ability of rival firms to compete, e.g. by preventing competitors from entering into or remaining active on a market.

Which of the following is an example of abuse of dominant power position?

The abuse of a dominant position by a firm may include excessive pricing of goods or services, denying competitors access to an essential facility, price discrimination (unjustifiably charging customers different prices for the same goods or services) and other exclusionary acts (such as refusal to supply scarce goods ...

Can I sue for abuse of power?

If the abuse of power occurred in settings like schools, nursing homes, or workplaces, plaintiffs might be able to sue the institution in addition to the individual perpetrator under the legal theory of negligent supervision. Adequate supervision standards vary depending on the circumstances.

What are the stages of being a victim?

Essentially, there are three stages of victimization:

  • Impact – Initial Reaction. Signs and symptoms of stress to traumatic events such as shock, numbness, helplessness, vulnerability, disorientation, perspiration, physical agitation, disbelief, anger, fear, frustration, confusion, guilt, grief, etc.
  • Recoil. ...
  • Reorganization.

What are some examples of abuse of authority?

Abuse of authority happens when someone uses their role to control, intimidate or mistreat others. It can appear as favouritism, unfair discipline, exclusion or coercion. Over time, this behaviour damages trust, lowers morale and exposes organisations to legal and reputational risk.

What are signs of narcissistic abuse?

Signs of narcissistic abuse include a cycle of love-bombing and devaluation, constant criticism, gaslighting (making you doubt your reality), blame-shifting (never taking responsibility), isolation from friends/family, emotional blackmail, invalidating your feelings, and using threats or intimidation. The abuser often appears charming initially but uses manipulation, control, and lies to erode your self-esteem and keep you dependent. 

What are the five signs of psychological abuse?

Five key signs of psychological abuse include ** isolation and control**, verbal humiliation and devaluation, manipulation (gaslighting/guilt-tripping), threatening behavior (intimidation), and excessive jealousy and possessiveness, all aimed at eroding self-worth and creating dependency, making victims feel confused, anxious, or like they're "walking on eggshells". 

What are the 10 abuses?

What are the ten different types of abuse?

  • Physical abuse.
  • Domestic violence or abuse.
  • Sexual abuse.
  • Psychological or emotional abuse.
  • Financial or material abuse.
  • Modern slavery.
  • Discriminatory abuse.
  • Organisational or institutional abuse.