11-Sep-17
POWER: PART I
David Millard
[email protected] n.ac.uk
With additional material from:
Norhidayah Azman
[email protected]Types of Power
Power
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Types of Power
Power
Reward
Positive: The
granting of a good
Negative: The
removal of a bad
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
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Types of Power
Power
Reward Coercive
The threat of
something negative
Is the withdrawal of
punishment a
reward?
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Types of Power
Power
Reward Coercive Legitimate
Power from position in
culture/society/group.
Stems from authority
but also norms and
values
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Types of Power
Power
Reward Coercive Legitimate Referent
Power from charisma,
attraction and a sense of
‘oneness’
Referent Power is not
mediated by the powerful
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
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Types of Power
Power
Reward Coercive Legitimate Referent Expert
Power based on the
perception of
knowledge.
Credibility vs. Self-
evident facts
French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). 'The bases of social power,' in D. Cartwright (ed.)
Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Working Definitions of Power
In Political Philosophy:
• Power is “the production of Power as Action
intended effects”
• Russell, B., 1948. Power - A New
Social Analysis Sixth., London:
Unwin Brothers
Working Definitions of Power
In Communication Theory:
• Power is "relational capacity Power as Action
that enables a social actor to
influence asymmetrically the
decisions of other social
actor(s) in ways that favor the
Power as Influence
empowered actor's will,
interests, and values.”
• Castells, M., 2009. Communication
Power, OUP Oxford
• Critical people: Connectors,
Mavens and Salesmen
• Gladwell, M. 2002. The Tipping
Point: How Little Things Can Make
a Big Difference. Back Bay Books.
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Working Definitions of Power
In Social Networking?
• How might we characterise Power as Action
Power in a Social Media
Context?
Power as Influence
Working Definitions of Power
In Social Networks we might
interpret power as Power as Action
connection
• We can use network
characteristics like
Betweenness, Centrality Power as Influence
and Hops to analyse a
persons ability or
potential to influence
Power as
Connection
Working Definitions of Power
Or we might interpret power as
propagation
Power as Action
• Propagation of Content
(URIs) – we can trace a URI
through Social Media and
identify sources (originating Power as Influence
posts)
Power as
Power as Propagation
Connection
URI
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Working Definitions of Power
Or we might interpret power
as propagation
Power as Action
• Propagation of Content
(URIs) – we can trace a URI
through Social Media and
identify sources (originating
posts) Power as Influence
• Propagation of Content
(Concepts) – we can trace Power as
concepts (terms) through Power as Propagation
Social Media and identify Connection
key sources whose URI Concept
concepts survive and are
passed on the most
Working Definitions of Power
In Social Networks we might
interpret power as Power as Action
interaction
• we can look at audience
reaction and can discover
who engages most with Power as Influence
others
• replies, messages,
Power as
sharing, joint activities, Propagation
Power as Power as
etc… Connection Interaction
URI Concept