Week 11 - Power & Violence Flashcards
What is social power?
Ability to influence/alter the thoughts, behaviour or feelings of others in the direction WE DESIRE and to resist the influence they have upon us
What is the interdependency perspective?
Power is based on the control of VALUABLE/USEFUL resources
What is the principle of lesser interest?
In ANY relationship, the individual w/ LESS interest in maintains the relationship will have MORE power
The availability of “__________” has a strong influence on the balance of power in a relationship
Alternatives
Not many alternatives = more DEPENDENT on relationships = LESS power
Ex) think why traditional men in heterosexual relationships have more power (out working, seek more women?)
What are the 2 sources of power?
- Fate control:
- when one individual has control over a partners outcomes NO MATTER WHAT the partner does - Behaviour control:
- changing your OWN behaviour to encourage a partner to ALTER their actions in a DESIRABLE manner
***BOTH INDIVIDUALS TYPICALLY HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THE OTHER
What are the 6 main bases of power?
- Reward power:
- indivs ability to PROVIDE for someone else - Coercive power:
- indivs ability to deliver PUNISHMENT to someone else - Legitimate power:
- indivs believes they have a reasonable RIGHT to tell their partner what to do (obligation to comply) - Referent power:
- partner ADORES you and wants to do what you want bc they feel CONNECTED to you - Expert power:
- partner recognizes your greater KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE in a particular domain, they are influenced bc they know you are the EXPERT - Informational:
- when one partner has KNOWLEDGE that the other one would like to POSSESS
True or false. In most heterosexual partnerships, the dominant partner is the male
If true, what are the 3 main reasons for this?
True
Tend to make more decisions, control more resources, control more joint activities and win more arguments
—————————————————————————-
1. Disparity in relative resources
- men paid more than women
- men are more likely to be in political lower
- Social norms support/maintain male dominance
- expectation that husbands be lower dominance if have lower status than their wives
- if women attains leadership = evaluated more harshly
- want airline pilots to be men
- want woman as elementary school teachers
- women typically get their way in terms of household matters and children
- wives buy most grocery’s, clean more dishes/house etc…
- husbands tend to take care of yardwork and cars - We don’t know what equality looks like
- tend to lean on social norms (historically)
- what we are used/comforable ^^
Why does power feel good?
Accustomed to getting what they WANT and they tend to experience (+) moods and feelings of well-being = as a result
Tend to think they can control uncontrollable events
Tend to get what they want
Typically not really good at understanding other peoples perspectives
50% more likely to cheat on partners
Tend to be more adulterous
Judge others moral behaviour more harshly than their own
More strict
Individuals w/ low levels of power tend to…
Suffer w/ more depression
Behave more cautiously
Have more fear of punishment
More likely to do things their partners want
Women “_______” speak w/ men using the same strength & power as they display in their interactions with other “________”
Don’t; women
Tend to allow themselves to be interrupted by men more often than they interrupt men
What is some nonverbal behaviour powerful people use?
Use larger interpersonal distances
Display more intense facial expressions
Tend to position their body in postures which are less symmetrical
Tend to take up more space
Women tend to “_______” nonverbal communication more accurately than men
Decode
Women are more aware to what others are feeling
In one study, researchers asked 50 lesbians, 50 gay men, 50 heterosexual women, and 50 heterosexual men to describe “how I get [my partner] to do what I want”
What was found?
What are the 2 approaches?
Participants sometimes said they would EXPLICITLY ask for what they want and make UNAMBIGUOUS requests
(More satisfied relationships)
^^^ they would use INDIRECT approaches, hinting or pouting when wishes unfulfilled
(Less satisfied relationships)
Heterosexual men: more direct
Heterosexual women: more indirect/unilateral
2 approaches:
1. Unilateral:
- working by yourself for desired outcome
- Bilateral:
- work together with partner for desired outcome
True or false. Most individuals say they don’t want equality in their relationships
False
Most people want equality
BUT we are immersed in a culture which tends to assume MALE DOMINANCE and this can further perpetuate GENGER INEQUALITIES
What are the two faces of power?
(+) and (-) sides…(went over the negative reasons already)
When people have COMMUNAL orientations in their committed relationships
They tend to use their POWER for the BENEFIT of their partners/relationships instead of SELFISH DESIRES
