There are four types of emotional power. The first is coercion, which relies primarily on the use of fear. The second is that of benefit, what you can provide to the other party. These are both explicit, requiring the other individual to interpret the results of compliance. The third is charismatic power, which uses the respect felt for an individual. The last is the power of norms. This last form puts forth the idea that certain actions are normal and therefore something individuals should strive to do. These last two are much more implicit, relying on their own mechanisms.
Key Takeaways:
- The most obvious kind of power is coercive, where people are able to use threats to get others to perform actions that they would not do without external control.
- The second main kind, benefit power, relies on potential gains that people can provide to others, without intimidation.
- I call it norm power, because social norms make their subjects acquiesce to the plans and goals of an individual or group through agreements that seem to them voluntary, without coercion, benefits, or a respected leader.
“Many interpersonal relations are based on power, but the dependence of power on emotions is largely unrecognized. There are at least four kinds of power that result from emotional interactions.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hot-thought/201608/power-and-emotion