EMPOWERMENT AND

PARTICIPATION
NATURE AND PRINCIPLE OF
EMPOWERMENT
power is the basis of influence and that mutual influence leads to the
formation of a psychological group. The three-process theory argues
that psychological group formation produces influence, that influence is
the basis of power and that power leads to the control of resources.
Implications of the theory for social change, coercion, prejudice and the
extent to which power is a social evil are briefly noted. The challenge is
to study how power emerges from and functions within social
relationships with a definite social, ideological and historical content
rather than reifying it as an abstract external force producing generic
psychological effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all
rights reserved)