ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the importance of distinguishing power from other related concepts such as social influence and dominance. Power may be defined as the capacity to alter the actions of others, or in more specific terms as the ability to achieve ends through influence. It is useful to distinguish between the different bases of power that are available to compare and contrast their effectiveness. Legitimate power as defined by French and Raven is that power which stems from internalized values in which dictate that has a legitimate right to influence and that has an obligation to accept this influence. Coercive power is exerted when one person controls the punishments that may be applied to another. Expert power is based on the attribution of special knowledge to the influencing agent. Referent power is based upon identification. Reward power is based on one person's ability to reward another. In the chapter the concepts of power and social influence were examined.
