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3: Power

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    Chapter Overview

    In this chapter, we will discuss power. This is a crucial chapter, as it shifts our academic paradigm towards a critical lens which we will use throughout the remainder of the text. Power is a phenomenon that we may understand in colloquial and conversational ways through our lives, but we will pinpoint specific philosophical and practical understandings of power to lock in how it influences our identities and our relationships. We will go through this discussion in three parts: first, we'll talk about what power us so we can understand how it is different from privilege and empowerment. Second, we'll discuss various sources of power, both tangible and concrete and intangible and social. Finally, we'll discuss the ways in which power effects our communication interactions and our understanding of ourselves and the world.

    Protest ralley with many people, one holding a rainbow colored sign that reads Quees Against Trump
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): City protest between groups in a realationship of power. (CC BY-SA 2.0; Ted Eyton via Wikimedia Commons)
    Chapter Objectives
    • Define power as a relational communication concept and explain how power differs from empowerment and privilege.
    • Identify the major sources of power, including hierarchical authority, access to resources, and cultural capital.
    • Analyze how power operates at macroscopic, mezzoscopic, and microscopic levels within social systems and relationships.
    • Evaluate how power dynamics influence communication behaviors, perceptions, and interactions between individuals and groups.
    • Apply concepts of power, positionality, and standpoint theory to understand how social location shapes experiences and communication practices.

    • 3.1: Power (re)Defined
      This section outlines the relational nature of power as a capacity to influence relationships, distinguishing it from empowerment and privilege. It identifies three layers of power—macroscopic, mezzoscopic, and microscopic—and describes power as dynamic, productive, and contextually driven, often maintained by social contracts.
    • 3.2: Sources of Power
      This section discusses the various sources of power individuals and groups can access, likening power to wells. It categorizes power into three types: Hierarchical Authority, Access to Resources, and Cultural Capital, which includes valued societal traits like education and identity that influence perceptions of worth and leadership.
    • 3.3: Manifestations of Power
      This section examines power dynamics in interpersonal settings, highlighting how higher power individuals often dominate while those with less power use politeness and nonverbal cues to navigate interactions. It introduces standpoint theory, emphasizing how diverse identities shape perceptions of power. The metaphor of two people exploring a city illustrates that those in lower power positions may better understand societal issues, indicating that all individuals possess some degree of power.
    • 3.4: Chapter Review
      This section examines the role of power in communication by defining power as a relational and socially constructed force that influences interactions between individuals and groups. It explores how power dynamics are shaped by cultural contexts, institutional structures, resource access, and cultural values that determine who is granted influence and social value.
    • 3.5: Keywords
      This section offers important terms and concepts that appear throughout the content. These foundational ideas are bolded the first time they’re introduced.
    • 3.6: Discussions and Exercises
      This section contains resources for educators designed to be used both in and out of the classroom.
    • 3.7: References
      This section lists the references cited in this chapter, offering evidence and support for the theories and concepts discussed.

    Thumbnail: President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at Mansfield Air National Guard Base in Mansfield, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2012. (Public Domain; Pete Souza, via Wikimedia Commons)

    This page titled 3: Power was last modified on Sat, 19 Sep 2026 06:23:21 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Nick Chivers and Nicole Stibbard.