Editing Power (social and political) (section)

=== Principles in interpersonal relationships ===
According to Laura K. Guerrero and Peter A. Andersen in ''Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships'':<ref>Guerrero, Laura K., and Peter A. Andersen. ''Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships'', 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2011. Print. pp. 267–261</ref>
* '''Power as a perception''': Power is a perception in the sense that some people can have objective power but still have trouble influencing others. People who use power cues and act powerfully and proactively tend to be perceived as powerful by others. Some people become influential even though they do not overtly use powerful behavior.
* '''Power as a relational concept''': Power exists in relationships. The issue here is often how much relative power a person has in comparison to one's partner. Partners in close and satisfying relationships often influence each other at different times in various arenas.
* '''Power as resource-based''': Power usually represents a struggle over resources. The more scarce and valued resources are, the more intense and protracted the power struggles. The scarcity hypothesis indicates that people have the most power when the resources they possess are hard to come by or are in high demand. However, scarce resources lead to power only if they are valued within a relationship.
* '''The principle of least interest and dependence power''': The person with less to lose has greater power in the relationship. Dependence power indicates that those who are dependent on their relationship or partner are less powerful, especially if they know their partner is uncommitted and might leave them. According to interdependence theory, the quality of alternatives refers to the types of relationships and opportunities people could have if they were not in their current relationship. The [[principle of least interest]] suggests that if a difference exists in the intensity of positive feelings between partners, the partner who feels the most positive is at a power disadvantage. There's an inverse relationship between interest in a relationship and the degree of relational power.
* '''Power as enabling or disabling''': Power can be [[enabling]] or disabling. Research{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} has shown that people are more likely to have an enduring influence on others when they engage in dominant behavior that reflects [[social skill]] rather than [[intimidation]]. Personal power is protective against pressure and excessive [[Social influence|influence]] by others and/or situational stress. People who communicate through [[self-confidence]] and expressive, composed behavior tend to be successful in achieving their goals and maintaining good relationships. Power can be disabling when it leads to destructive patterns of communication. This can lead to the chilling effect, where the less powerful person often hesitates to communicate dissatisfaction, and the demand withdrawal pattern, which is when one person makes demands and the other becomes defensive and withdraws (Mawasha, 2006). Both effects have negative consequences for relational satisfaction.
* '''Power as a prerogative''': The prerogative principle states that the partner with more power can make and break the rules. Powerful people can violate [[Convention (norm)|norms]], break relational rules, and manage interactions without as much penalty as powerless people. These actions may reinforce the powerful person's dependence on power. In addition, the more powerful person has the prerogative to manage both verbal and nonverbal interactions. They can initiate conversations, change topics, interrupt others, initiate touch, and end discussions more easily than less powerful people. (See expressions of dominance.)