Power (communication)

Power is the ability to influence the attainment of goals of an individual or a group. Power is not a characteristic of any one individual, rather, it is defined in terms of relationships and transactions between people. Power is crucial to the achievement of individual goals, the resolution of conflicts, and to communication competency within a group.

Based on work originally proposed by the social psychologists French and Raven, there are six different breakdowns of power in interpersonal communication: referent, legitimate, reward, coercive, persuasive, and expert.Fact|date=February 2007

Ways people give up their power are by being over-polite, backing down from an argument, using a title (such as Doctor or Professor) when addressing another, allowing interruptions when speaking, and specific clothing choices can also suggest a loss of or way people give up power to others.Fact|date=February 2007

A power resource is something that either helps with or hinders the achievement of goals.

Types of Power

Referent power - is based upon the identification with the person who has the resources, or the desire to be like that person. It could be regarded as imitative power, which is often seen in the way children imitate their parents.

Legitimate power - is based on agreement on commonly held values which allow one person to have power over another person, for example an older person or one who has longer service or is seen to be charismatic.

Expert power - is based upon one person perceiving that the other person has expert knowledge of a given subject and is a recognised authority in a given situation eg. the engineer in a building project.

Coercive power - this enables a person to mediate punishments for others. For example, to dissmiss, suspend, reprimand them, or make them carry out unpleasant tasks.

Reward Punishment Power- when a person has the ability to issue rewards and punishments and issues one or the other or both, eg. promotions, recommendations, praise or answers to questions.

Information Power- when an individual has information that the others cannot easily access

Personal Qualities- an individual’s personal attributes make him appear powerful to others

Forms of Power

Dominance - the exercise of power over others that is typically associated with a negative view of power and is competitive and hierarchical

Prevention - competitive and hierarchical power used to thwart the influence of others

Empowerment - power derived from enhancing the capabilities and the influences of individuals and groups

Indicators of Power

By observing several indicators it can be determined who holds the power in a situation.

Defining People - the person who can assign a label to another person is the one who has the power

Principle of Least Interest - the power lies in the hands of the person who cares the least about the relationship

Leader - the person who ultimately determines what is done has power

Verbal Indicators of Power - powerful speaking involves definite declarative statements while non-powerful speaking shows a lack of self-confidence

Nonverbal Indicators of Power - include clothing, touch, eye contact, and spacing

See also

* Power (philosophy)