Editing Power (social and political) (section)

=== Resistance to coercive influence ===
Coercive influence can be tolerated when the group is successful,<ref>Michener, H. A., & Lawler, E. J. (1975). Endorsement of formal leaders: An integrative model. ''Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31,'' 216–223.</ref> the leader is trusted, and the use of coercive tactics is justified by group norms.<ref>Michener, H. A., & Burt, M.R. (1975) Components of authority as determinants of compliance. ''Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31'', 606–614.</ref> Furthermore, coercive methods are more effective when applied frequently and consistently to punish prohibited actions.<ref>Molm, L. D. (1994) Is Punishment Effective? Coercive Strategies in Social Exchange. ''Social Psychology Quarterly, 57,'' 75–94.</ref>

However, in some cases, group members chose to resist the authority's influence. When low-power group members have a feeling of shared identity, they are more likely to form a ''Revolutionary Coalition'', a subgroup formed within a larger group that seeks to disrupt and oppose the group's authority structure.<ref>Lawler, E. J. (1975a). An experimental study of factors affecting the mobilization of revolutionary coalitions. ''Sociometry, 38,'' 163–179.</ref> Group members are more likely to form a revolutionary coalition and resist an authority when authority lacks referent power, uses coercive methods, and asks group members to carry out unpleasant assignments. It is because these conditions create [[Reactance (psychology)|reactance]], individuals strive to reassert their sense of freedom by affirming their agency for their own choices and consequences.