CM310:Communication & Conflict Final Project
Communication & Conflict Final Project
The Nature of Power in Conflict:
Power can be defined in many ways. Most simply, it is the ability to get what you want.
Power is a fundamental concept in any conflict. The nature of that power can depend upon how the power is distributed, how it is viewed, and how it is used. There can be power struggles between those that feel very powerful and those that feel that they have little to no power. The different individual perceptions of power within a conflict can affect communication.
Power can be distributed in three distinct ways: distributive, designated, and integrated (Wilmot and Hocker, 2007).
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In conflict we often make the mistake of using our power to focus on the relationship or on the issue/ outcome we desire. The result is that we often attain one at the expense of the other. Our power may enable us to achieve our goal but damage or destroy the relationship. Alternatively, we may sustain the relationship at the expense of our needs or desired outcome. The ideal may be maintaining a healthy relationship while at the same time achieving our goal, but this requires a subtle and complex use of different kinds of power or perhaps not using the power at our disposal. This requires wisdom, self control and self discipline as well as skilled interpersonal behavior.
Nor can effective use of power be reduced to wise control of our personal powers, though that may be a good start. Social power, including our own, is concentrated, channelled, and distributed by the culture and structure of our families, communities, organizations, countries, etc. Personal power is limited or extended by such cultures and structures.
We have to contend, in the exercise of our personal power, with the influences of such power-channels in our environments and how they add to, limit or distort our exercise of power - e.g. hierarchies, coalitions,
Power is a double-edged sword. It has the capacity to do positive things and be a good force, but often turns into a slippery slope. Powerlessness is similar in fashion as it serves a purpose to elevate the notion of power, acting as a sort of byproduct of power, but is often a forced position that puts the “participant” at the bottom of the totem pole.
There are many definitions of power but my definition of power is to rule over, or to have
Often time power can be understood as control of material resources and wealth, control of politics and the institutions that make up society (Hutchison,2015). It is important to recognize and identify the core concepts of power or lack of power with individuals in society. The conflict theory allows examination within the text of those who hold power and lack power. The end result of power to hold dominance over another person, group, or society. As a result of the control and power is causes those who lack power to be devalued or alienated from a setting or even society (Hutchinson, 2015).
Power is a negative concept that turns people against each other if power is used in a wrong way.
Power is not only necessary in our life, it's desired as well. Power has a positive effect on people because it gives us order in our daily life.
Conflict handling is best addressed when both parties engage in an integrative approach where they work in cooperation and generate solutions that address the needs of both parties (de Reuver, 2006). This isn’t always the approach, however. Power can prevent a positive problem solving approach. The one holding the power simply does not need to operate in this way. “The powerful are less dependent on others than others are on them for acquiring and maintaining important resources” (de Reuver, 2006). In short, conflict, difficult already to manage, becomes much more difficult to handle if the power is unequal.
I define power as somebody in leadership position that maintains control over his or her subordinate. For instance, governmental power is consistent as the president of the Unites States who is in charge of the executive branch. Thus, he is in charge over the military and the entire country. Some of the responsibility of his jobs entails is to protect the American people at the same time dealing other countries as far as trade etc. Other type of power is personal power that can also be interpreting as the ability to educate one and others. We often heard that “Knowledge is Power.” An example is Dr. Martin Luther Jr. was able to educate people of all races and ethnicity of his dream that one day he believes that humanity will live in a better
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a men's character, give him power" Abraham Lincoln power is the ability to control people in their actions or things that they say. power is the ability to get whatever you want from whom ever. power is a necessity in any society; otherwise all bodlm would be in chaos, leaders must be established. when taken to an extreme power is destructive.
Power refers to the ownership of power and impact over others. Contingent upon how power is utilized, it can prompt positive or negative conclusions in an association. Control in individuals is similar to power in batteries; the higher the voltage of battery, the more electromotive energy it can convey; subsequently, it can have more noteworthy effect. Likewise, individuals with more prominent wellsprings of force are better ready to lead and impact others than individuals with less and lesser wellsprings of force. The all the more influential you are, the more impact you ought to have. Persons can have master force; referent force; prize force; coercive power or true blue force.
“The first thing you must realise is that power is collective. The individual only has power in so far as he ceases to be an individual.” (Orwell).
A world of system designed to keep people in unjust and unequal positions is held in place by several interrelated expression of "power over": political power, economic power, physical force, and ideological power (Bishop, 1994: 36). So, we can say power is defined as a possession of control, authority or influence over others. In terms of power of dominant groups over subordinate groups, we define power as domination of one group of people over another in major important spheres of life. Power inequities have been in existence throughout the history of humanity and the ways of manifestation evolved from extreme overt oppression to subtle, covert oppression. Three major forms of power inequalities discussed in this paper are
Throughout these last few weeks, the class has read writings from people who are battling similar issues or trying to prove something. Power and how it relates to people is something that keeps showing up. This is interesting because it’s easy to look at these writings as dated and irrelevant toward today’s culture. Contrary to that belief, the writings have been able to relate to the issues and thoughts of today. This may be because human beings tend to strive for power and the things that come with having power.
Some theorists believe that ‘power is everywhere: not because it embraces everything, but because it comes from everywhere… power is not an institution, nor a structure, nor possession. It is the name we give to a complex strategic situation in a particular society. (Foucault, 1990: 93) This is because power is present in each individual and in every relationship. It is defined as the ability of a group to get another group to take some form of desired action, usually by consensual power and sometimes by force. (Holmes, Hughes &Julian, 2007) There have been a number of differing views on ‘power over’ the many years in which it has been studied. Theorist such as Anthony Gidden in his works on structuration theory attempts to integrate basic
Power is the emphasis is an employment situation. While employed you have a certain amount of power, both over your work environment and your own life.
Power and politics have always been around but seldom openly discussed. Power is learned at an early age through family and schools. Ordinary people such as scholars hesitate to talk about power. It is often equated with force brutality, unethical behavior, manipulation, connivance, and subjugation.