Week 8 Flashcards
What is power?
The perception that a person has the capacity to impact on the beliefs, attitudes or behaviour of another person
Principles of power - Power is part of all interpersonal messages
Listening vs speaking
Aggressive - assertive - passive
Principles of power - Power varies from person to person
Perception vs actual
Power is rarely static
Principles of power - Power can be used unfairly
Use vs abuse
Failure to assert may be due to lack of perceived power
Principles of power - Power follows principles of least interest
Greater interest = least power
Least interest = greater power
Principles of power - Power has a cultural dimension
High vs low power distance
What is power distance?
The perception by those with less power of the magnitude of distance or gap between those who have power and those who do not - power distributed unequally
What are the 6 main types of power?
- Reward power
- Legitimate power
- Information power
- Expert power
- Referent power
- Coercive power
What is reward power?
A has the ability to punish B
Perception of being able to be rewarded or not
Example: parent child relationship; manager rewards hard work
What is legitimate power?
B believes that A has a right to influence or control B’s behaviour
Person holds a title or position that gives them formal power - eg. police, managers
What is information power?
A has information that is useful to B
The holder of the information that is of use, or has an impact - eg. who is being made redundant
What is expert power?
B regards A as having special knowledge
Used to instruct or dictate process; good to be aware of, eg. using our profession to influence an outcome
What is referent power?
B wants to be like A
Used for persuasion; charismatic leader eh. personality of superior, when a younger sibling looks up to an older one
What is coercive power?
A has the ability to punish B
Opposite to reward power - reprimanding, criticizing or demoting a subordinate, threat of all these
What are the two types of power distance?
Low and high
What is low power distance?
Low power distance cultures that practice low power distance are more consultation or democracy
What is high power distance?
High power distant cultures are structured and hierarchical approach to communication with those in power
Balancing power in communication - what are the three communication skills to prevent another person from dominating?
- Coalitions
- Defiance
- Resistance
Balancing power in communication - What does coalition do?
Temporary alliances increase relative power
Balance power in communication - What is defiance?
Unambiguous, overt, purposeful noncompliance
Balancing power in communication - what is resistance?
Covert ambiguous noncompliance
What is conflict?
When the ideas, beliefs or goals of one person are at odds with the ideas, beliefs or goals of another person