Chapter 12: Power & Violence

Question 1

What is social power?

Answer 1

the ability to influence the behavior of others and to resist their influence on us

• power is maintained by controlling access to valuable resources in a relationship

Question 2

What are the subtleties of social power?

Answer 2

Person who has power does not have to possess what is desired, just controls a person’s access to them
- more power over access to what you desire if your desire is strong
Ex: If you want Love and affection from your partner and express intense interest then you partner holds more power over you (principle of lesser interest)

Question 3

What is the principle of lesser interest?

Answer 3

those less committed to a relationship has more power

Question 4

Interdependency Theory recognizes two different types of power

Answer 4

1. Fate Power
2. Behavior control

Question 5

Define fate power

Answer 5

one can autocratically determine what outcomes a partner receives, thereby controlling the other’s fate

Question 6

What is behavior control?

Answer 6

by changing one’s own behavior, one encourages a partner to alter his or her actions in a desirable direction too

Question 7

True or False: in almost all relationships, both partners have power over each other

Answer 7

True - BOTH

Question 8

If power is based on types of resources we control–what are the resources?

Answer 8

1. Reward Power
   - Resource: rewards
   Gets people to do what you want because: you can give them something they like or take away something they don’t like

Ex: If a husband wants to have sex, wife has control over whether this commences

2. Coercive Power
   - Resources: punishments
   Gets people to do what you want because: you can do something to them they do not like or take away something they do like

Ex: If sex does not happen between the couple, husband will become less affectionate and sulk

3. Legitimate Power
   - Resources: authority or norms of equity, reciprocity, or social responsibility
   Gets people to do what you want because: they recognize your authority to tell them what to do

Ex: power dynamic at play in certain cultures, think Areeba and how she must comply to men in her life

4. Referent Power
   - Resources: respect/love
   Gets people to do what you want because: they identify with you, feeling attracted and wanting to remain close

Ex: our wishes may change partners approach or perspective

5. Expert Power
   - Resources: expertise
   Gets people to do what you want because: you have the broad understanding they desire

Ex: If your husband recognizes/knows you cook well, he will go to you for tips

6. Informational Power
   - Resources: information
   Gets people to do what you want because: you possess some specific knowledge they desire

Ex: Our partners might do what we want if we offer gossip about a mutual friend

Question 9

In heterosexual relationships, who possesses the most power?

Answer 9

Men

Question 10

How is power expressed?

Answer 10

a) conversation
- there is a power imbalance present in conversation between couples
- women do not talk to men as if they are conversing with another woman–less likely to interrupt and let men interrupt more often

b) nonverbal behavior
- those who take up more space feel more powerful
- take larger interpersonal distances, look at others longer, and assume postures that are less symmetrical and take up more space

d) styles of power
- direct, indirect, bilateral, unilateral

Question 11

Nonverbal sensitivity

Answer 11

one’s ability to decode accurately the nonverbal behavior of persons whom one does not know

Women are more aware of other people’s feelings
- powerful people recognize emotion in others’ voices and facial expressions less accurately than those with lower power do

Question 12

What are the styles of power?

Answer 12

direct: the ability to make others do what they would not do on their own

indirect: hinted at what they wanted and pouted when wishes were not fulfilled, but they never came right out and said what they wanted

bilateral: trying to get what you want by involving both members of the couple; powerful partners are more likely to use

unilateral: doing what they wanted without involving their partners

Question 13

Define violence

Answer 13

behave in a manner that is intended to do physical harm to another person

Question 14

Types of couple violence

Answer 14

1. Situational Couple Violence
2. Intimate Terrorism
3. Violent Resistance

Question 15

What does IPV stand for?

Answer 15

Intimate partner violence

• serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans; physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse

Question 16

What is situational couple violence?

Answer 16

both partners are angry and impulsive; violence is tied to a specific argument; usually happens only occasionally and generally more mild

Question 17

Intimate terrorism is…

Answer 17

one partner uses violence as a tool to control and oppress the other person; more likely to be one sided, escalate over time, and involve serious injury

Question 18

What are facets of IT?

Answer 18

isolation = controlling where she goes, what she does, whom she sees
intimidation = threatening, destroying her property, abusing pets
economic abuse = taking her money preventing her employment
emotional abuse = humiliating, disregarding, and blaming (aka: this is your fault)
minimizing = denying any abuse

Question 19

Gender differences in IT

Answer 19

-Women act violently toward their husbands just as often as men act violently toward their wives
-However, men are more likely to cause injuries
-Men are also more likely to use violence as a tool in an ongoing pattern of domination and influence

Question 20

What is violent resistance?

Answer 20

a partner forcibly fights back against intimate terrorism; least common type of IPV

Question 21

What is mate guarding?

Answer 21

regulating and controlling partner’s access to potential rivals and vice versa; insulting partner; monopolizing time, or surveillance

Question 22

What is the I-cubed model?

Answer 22

Instigating Triggers
-Cause partners to be frustrated
-Jealousy evoking events, betrayal, rejection

Impelling Influences
-More likely partners will experience violent impulses
-When someone is fired up, predisposed to violence as a child

Inhibiting Influences
-Encourage partners from acting in impulses
-Cultural (gender equality = less violence), disposition, good problem solving skills

Question 23

Situational couple violence: instigating triggers

Answer 23

cause one or both partners to be frustrated or on edge

Question 24

Stalking

Answer 24

the act of following or harassing another person, causing the fear of death or injury

Question 25

Why don’t they all leave?

Answer 25

Most victims of abuse leave their relationships, but they stay when they don’t believe they’ll be better off if they go. A few don’t leave because they don’t want to go.