SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Grade 12

Philippine Politics and Governance

DIVISION ARALING PANLIPUNAN TOOLS

(DAPAT)
First Quarter - Lesson 4

POWER

Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13) i
Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)
 INTRODUCTION

Stories of superheroes became the interest of many people around the world.
Are you familiar with the Avengers? How about our local superhero, Darna? Do they
possess extraordinary powers? These characters are fictional yet their charisma is
as important as the power they possessed. Thus, they have left indelible marks in
people’s consciousness.
Superheroes have been a part of people’s homes. Their actions reflect
messages with social relevance to our culture, political controversy, and other social
issues that captured people’s hearts. Apparently, they had championed the defense
of those oppressed, neglected, and abused with the power they possessed.
In reality, the concept of power had occupied a position in line with politics.
Power can be considered as good and bad and it is best manifested on how
government works.
The module will help you explain the concept of power. This will introduce you
to the nature, dimension, types and consequences of power. It will also guide you in
understanding the meaning of power, how it is exercise and its sources.

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Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)
 Nature, Dimensions, Types,
and Consequences of Power
REMEMBER

To strengthen your ideas about power, read the following learning points and
prepare for the different activities that will test your knowledge and skills as you go
through the lesson.

Definition of Power
Power is a complex term that it is being defined from different perspectives.
Max Weber, a German Sociologist, defined it as “the possibility of imposing one’s will
upon the behavior of other persons.” It refers to the capacity of a person to influence
others, direct their behavior, and guide the flow and consequence of events.
Power concerns an individual’s ability to control or direct others. Kenneth E.
Boulding, an economist defined power as “our capacity to get other people to do
things that contribute to what we want.” It is the ability to achieve the desired
outcome at the expense of the others.
Hans J. Morgenthau viewed power as “may comprise anything that
establishes and maintains control of man over man and covers all social relationship
which serves that end, from physical violence to the most subtleties by which one
mind controls another.”
Power, according to George Schwarzenberger, is the capacity to impose
one’s will on others by reliance on effective sanctions in case of non-compliance. In
this definition, power is viewed as containing a threat or power relationship is marked
by the presence of threats. This threat is not present in influence but it is short
enough for the use of actual force.
Also, Charles P. Schleicher defines power as the ability to make others do
what they otherwise would not do by rewarding or promising to reward or by
depriving or threatening to deprive them of something they value. This particular
definition points out the presence of reward but failed not to mention the idea of a
threat.

Nature of Power
1. Latent  Power is something that people have and may or may not
choose to use it as a weapon or tool. It may never be used, and
just having
it may make its use unnecessary.
2. Relative  The power of one person over another depends largely on things
such as the expertise of a person to another.
3. Perceived  Power is based on one person’s belief that another has certain
characteristics.

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Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)
 4. Dynamic  Power relationships evolve over time as individuals gain or lose
certain types of power relative to others.

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Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)
 Dimensions of Power

Physical Informational Emotional

Power Power Power

 derived from
 derived from  is using the emotion to get
physical advantage
knowledge what you want
 you have the control
 the power to  can be manifested through
over things
control the access to ones’ charm and appeal
 comes from strength
of information to others
and skill or in a form
where others do  captivates others through
of having weapons
not have the way one speaks or
 positive use of this
 positive use of this though body language
power is to defend
power is to inform  . Positive use of this power
and not to harm
and to teach is to comfort or nurture and
to respond to calls for help.

Types of Power
In 1959, John French and Bertram Raven described five types of power:
1. Legitimate Power. This power is relative to the power of the position and duties
of the holder of the position within an organization, which makes it known as
“positional power.” It is received by the person as a result of his/ her position in
the formal hierarchy of an organization. Also called “formal power,” it is a formal
authority delegated to the holder of a position. It acts as a formalized way of
ensuring that there is someone to make a decision and that someone is
responsible. Example, a policeman can arrest a citizen, a teacher can give
grades, and a boss can assign a project.
2. Reward Power. This power depends on the ability of the power holder to confer
something of value. It refers to the degree which a person can give others a
reward, such as increase in pay, benefits, desired gifts, responsibility, promotion,
or praise. It tends to accompany legitimate power and is significant when the
reward is scarce but also ineffective if abused.
3. Expert Power. This power is derived from the power holder’s specific skills or
expertise and the need of the organization for those skills and expertise. It is
extremely specific and limited to the area in which the expert is trained and
qualified.
4. Referent Power. This power comes from the power holder’s ability to persuade
others, influence them, and build loyalty. It is based on possession by an
individual of desirable resources or personal traits and is built on the charisma
and interpersonal skills of the power holder.
5. Coercive Power. This power stems from the power holder’s ability to punish or
apply negative influences. It includes the ability to withhold rewards and relies on
threats, bullying, and “or else” language. It refers to the power to take something

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Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)
 away or punish someone for non-compliance. It works through fear and forces
people to do something that ordinarily they would not choose to do, which often
leads to fear, dissatisfaction, and resentment.
Consequence of Power
It refers to the effects of the exercise of power and may result in either
progress or moral and cultural decline in society. This is a function of either positive
and negative use of power. For instance, the exercise of power in accordance with
the implementation of the law.
The intent of the positive use of power is by helping others or used it to
protect and nurture. This is based on prosocial values. On the other hand, power
may exercise in violation of the law. This may use to harm other people without any
concern. This is based on greed and selfish desire.
Below are the terms associated in the Consequence of Power.
1. Compliance. Refers to the situation where a person is too willing to obey a
legitimate and polite request which is perceived to be within the scope of power
of a leader. It is attained if the requests are made in a clear and concise manner.
Otherwise, it will be rejected if the request is tedious, dangerous, or unpleasant. It
is also the state of being willing to do what other people want. Reward and
legitimate powers produce compliance.
2. Commitment. Refers to the trust and emotional pledge that produces desirable
outcome. Expert and referent powers produce commitment.
3. Resistance. It is most likely the result when coercive power is employed by the
leader. Coercion is difficult to use and would result to undesirable effects such as
anxiety and resentment

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Grade 12- Analyze the nature, dimensions, types, deployments, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12- Id-13)