Module 7 Flashcards
Power
asymmetric control over valued resources in social relations
Status
the extent to which the actor is respected or admired by others
Similarities power and status
- Relational
- Bases for hierarchical differentiation
- Can refer to intra- and inter-group context
Differences power and status
- Property of target actor vs. other actors’ perception
- Relatively objective vs. subjective and perceptual
Coercive power
- Based on fear of the negative results from failing to comply
Reward power
- Based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable
Legitimate power
Based on his/her position in the formal hierarchy of an organization
Expert power
- Based on special skills or knowledge
Referent power
- Based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits
Power bases
- Coercive power > formal
- Reward power > formal
- Legitimate power > formal
- Expert power > personal
- Referent power > personal
Hierarchy
- a system in which people are put at ranks according to their importance
- an implicit or explicit rank order of individuals (or groups) with respect to a valued social mission
Formal hierarchy
based on formal aspects (job titles)
Informal hierarchy
based on valued social dimensions within a context
Functions of hierarchy
- Social order and coordination
- Individual incentives
Consequence of hierarchies for teams
- Coordination-related processes: positive effect
- Conflict-related processes: negative effect
Coordination-related processes
- Clear expectations about norms, roles, and expected behaviors
- Guidelines for resource allocation
> Not much support was found
Conflict-related processes
- People in different ranks develop opposing interests and perspectives
- Invites power struggles to climb in rank
Support was found
Power has an impact on social attentiveness.
- Focus of attention: increased egocentricity
- Selective of attention: instrumentality
Psychological & behavioral consequences of power lead power holders to more likely claim new and hold onto existing resources
- Information processing and perception (e.g., reduced perspective taking, seeing others more likely to the extent they are instrumentally useful)
- Group participation and influence (e.g., more speaking time, express opnions)
- Confidence and action (e.g., fueled by optimism and control)
Expectancy confirmation
status determines how others evaluate the behavior of an actor
Behavioral confirmation
others treat actors in a way that elicits expectancy conforming behavior
Backlash
normative beliefs about the acceptable behavior associated with certain status positions and sanctions against those who disconfirm these expectations
