Status and Power

Identify the 6 types of social power

1. Reward power 2. Coercive power 3. Legitimate power 4. Referent power 5. Expert power 6. Informational power.

Explain informational power

A person who has resources or information that are useful and are not available elsewhere has informational power. For example, someone who know exactly what to do to meet an important team goal within the deadline.

Define power

Power refers to an individual's(or group's) ability to control or influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of another person(or group).

Explain role expectations

Role expectations have a strong influence on an individual's behaviour within a group, especially when their role provides considerable power and status.

What is power called in a social interaction

Social power.

Define status

Status refers to the importance of an individual's position in the group, as perceived by members of that group.

Define a group

A group is any collection of 2 or more people who interact with and influence each other and who share a common purpose.

Explain expert power

A person who has specialised knowledge and skills that are desirable or needed has expert power. For example, a supervisor of a workplace trainee/ new employee.

Explain referent power

A person who individuals identify with or want to be like or liked by has referent power. For example, a celebrity you want to be like or a friend you want to like you.

Define a role

A role is the behaviour adopted by an individual or assigned to them that influences the way in which they function or act in different situations and life in general.

Explain coercive power

Coercive power is the ability to give negative consequences or take away positive consequences in response to specific behaviour. For example, A teach can give detention, a parent can take away a toy.

Explain reward power

Reward power is the ability to give positive consequences or remove negative consequences in response to specific behaviour. For example, a teacher can reward students with grades and praise or dismiss a student early from detention.

Explain legitimate power

legitimate power is an individual's status or position in a group, institution or society that gives them the right(authority) to exercise power over those with lower status or less authority. For example, a police officer, a teacher, a parent, a manager etc.