Politics

:This article is about Politics as social phenomenon, for all other uses see Politics (disambiguation)

Political power

Samuel Gompers? maxim,?Reward your friends and punish your enemies.? hints at two of the five types of power recognized by social psychologists i.e. incentive power( the power to reward) and coercive power (the power to punish). Arguably the other three grow out of these two.

Related Topics:
Samuel Gompers - Social psychologists

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Legitimate power, the power of the policeman or the referee, is the power given to an individual by a recognized authority to enforce standards of behavior. Legitimate power is similar to coercive power in that unacceptable behavior is punished by fine or penalty.

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Referent power is bestowed upon individuals by virtue of accomplishment or attitude. Fulfillment of the desire to feel similar to a celebrity or a hero is the reward for obedience.

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Expert power springs from education or experience. Following the lead of an experienced coach is often rewarded with success. Expert power is conditional to the circumstances. A brain surgeon is no help when your pipes are leaking.

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