Power is a potent drug. It’s why the language we use to describe it is laced with that of addiction. We crave it. Or we’re power-hungry. Power-mad. Drunk on power. On a power trip.

A power move is like a quick fix down a back alley—a desperate hit for the vulnerable ego. A person comfortable in authority does not need to flaunt it, but those who are insecure about their position become giddy on assertions of their dominance.

We all know the drill: Someone makes you wait unreasonably long for a meeting to emphasize how valuable their time is; the boss insists on sitting at the head of the table; a parent undermines their offspring’s partner to demonstrate an exclusive hold over their affections.¹

For evidence that power moves are comfort blankets for the insecure, watch videos of...