Chapter Eight: Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=682532" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="31800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Tahoma" ><B>The Message</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> </b></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> </b></FONT><B>|   </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Message"><U><B>The Message Home Page</b></U></A><B> </b><B> |  </b><A HREF="small_group_communication_by_lynn_meade.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Small Group Home Page"><U><B>Small Group Home Page</b></U></A><B>  </b><B> |  </b><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U><B>Contact Me</b></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> A Communication Website by Lynn Meade</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Chapter Eight: Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic</b></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="30da2f60.gif" border=0 width="162" height="246" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></b></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Definition of power</U></b></div> <div> Power is the ability to influence the attainment of goals sought by yourself or others. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Forms of power</U></b></div> <div> <B>Dominance -</b> power over others</div> <div> <B>Prevention- </b>power from the influence efforts of others.  When people try to dominate us we "fight back" --the power to prevent dominance</div> <div> <B>Empowerment-</b> power to accomplish your own goals or help others achieve theirs. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="443" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="134"><div> <B>Type</b></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="121"><div> <B>Definition</b></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="162"><div> <B>Description</b></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="134"><div> Dominance</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="121"><div> Power over</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="162"><div> Active</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="134"><div> Prevention</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="121"><div> Power from</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="162"><div> Reactive</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Empowerment</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="121"><div> Power to</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="162"><div> Proactive</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Closer look: Empowerment and Self-help Groups</b></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Power Resources</U></b></div> <div> <B>Power resource</b> is anything that enables individuals to move toward their own goals of interfere with another's actions. </div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Information</b>- it assumes value or usefulness when it is perceived to be unavailable. Information usually becomes unavailable through scarcity and restrictions. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Information that is perceived by the group to be valuable and useful had power potential</div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Expertise-</b>has valuable and useful information for a group but also understands the information and knows how to use it and help the group.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In order for expertise to function as a power resource...</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The group must be convinced that the person has the requisite skills, abilities, knowledge, and background, to function as a real expert.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The expert must demonstrate trustworthiness.</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Rewards and Punishments</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Punishment is a source of power if it can be and likely will be exercised</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Drawbacks to punishment</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It indicates what you shouldn't do but does not indicate what you should do.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Targets of punishment can become angry and hostile toward their perceived tormentors. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Often backlash occurs</div> <div> <B>Rewards</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Extrinsic reward motivates us to behave or perform by offering us an external inducement such as money, grades, praise, recognition, or prestige. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Intrinsic motivation is enjoying what one does for its own sake, not because of some external reward for doing it.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Extrinsic reward can diminish intrinsic motivation. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Verbal praise can actually increase intrinsic motivation. </div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Personal qualities</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Charismatic or transformational leaders communicate a vision to followers. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Change is the central mission of the charismatic leader. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Charismatic leaders induce fierce loyalty, commitment, and devotion from followers. </div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Legitimate authority</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Power can be derived from the shared belief that some individuals have a legitimate right to influence us and direct our behavior by virtue of the roles that they occupy. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="09822240.gif" border=0 width="546" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Closer Look: Milgram Studies</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">We are inclined to automatically obey authority figures</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When "teachers" had to provide increasing shocks to confederate "students,"</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> almost 2/3rds progressed to the maximum shock of 450 volts. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Another study 2/3rds of college students tested were willing to provide real shocks to a cute, helpless puppy.  (54% men and 100% of women)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Milgram's results: "Even when the destructive effects of their work become apparently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources to resist authority. " </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">21 out of 22 nurses followed orders from an individual posing as a physical over the phone and headed for a patient's room to administer a potentially lethal dose of a drug. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="09822240.gif" border=0 width="546" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="32c078a0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="138" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Indicators of Power</b></div> <div> <B>General indicators</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Those who define-control. Teachers define students(smart), bosses define workers (good employee)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Those whose decisions are followed have power</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Who opposes significant change is an indicator of power</div> <div> <B>Verbal indicators</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Powerless speech include</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hedges--perhaps the best way....</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hesitations--Well, uhm...</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tag questions--The meeting will be at noon, okay?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Disclaimers--You may disagree, but</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Excessive politeness--I'm extremely sorry to barge in but...</div> <div> <B>Nonverbal Indicators</b></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Powerful people have more and better space</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Posture and gestures-The more powerful people have more relaxed posture</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Superordinates touch the subordinates more frequently</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Eye contact-staring is done more freely by the powerful</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Objects or tangibles-Powerful have more or bigger and better stuff (desks) </div> <div> <B>Focus on Gender/Culture: Powerful Language Differences</b></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>