How Can Power Be Used Positively In Relationships?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Positive power exists

when partners choose to be together not because they need each other

, but because they appreciate, respect, and love one another. It’s about finding that sweet spot between being who you are and making an effort to accommodate to your significant other’s preferences.

How does power affect people’s interactions and relationships?

Power affects

how people think, feel, and interact with others

. … And there is research to support this—people are less likely to take strangers’ perspectives when they feel powerful and in families, powerful members are less likely to perspective-take.

How can power be used negatively in a relationship?

When

one partner uses tactics to control the other partner

, it can be very damaging. This control or power imbalance can take many forms, including threats, ‘stalking’ behaviour, and physical abuse. This usually results in one partner being scared of another, leaving them unable to feel safe in the relationship.

Why is balance of power important in a relationship?

Reaching a balance in power can be explained as “shared power”, where both partners take responsibility for themselves and the health of the relationship. In this ideal balance of power, ideas and decisions are shared jointly and points of view are

respected and valued

.

What is a power play in relationships?

It means that

both partners have similar abilities to exert influence over the relationship

, and this influence is generally positive and reciprocal. Though, the power can come from different sources. For example, one partner might have better financial power while the other has more social power.

How do you get power in a relationship?

  1. Tell The Truth. …
  2. Feel Your Feelings. …
  3. Challenge Your Assumptions About Where Your Power Lies. …
  4. Focus On The Choices *You* Are Making. …
  5. Take Responsibility For Your Portion. …
  6. Put Energy Into Changing What’s Bothering You. …
  7. Know Your Worth.

How can power affect individuals?

Sociocognitive research has demonstrated that power affects

how people feel, think, and act

. … Power magnifies self-expression linked to active parts of the self (the active self), enhancing confidence, self-regulation, and prioritization of efforts toward advancing focal goals.

What are the benefits of sharing power within a group or relationship?


You’ll talk more than the low-status members do

, and you’ll communicate more with other high-status members than you will with lower-status individuals. In addition, you’ll be more likely to speak to the whole group than will members with lower status.

How forms of power can be used in an intimate relationship?

  • Legitimate – a formal position, perhaps given by an organisation.
  • Reward – being able to give something of value.
  • Coercive – being able to punish.
  • Expert – having valuable knowledge.
  • Referent – being able to make others feel good, leading to increased trust and acceptance.

How does power manifest itself in everyday life?

How does power manifest itself in everyday life? …

Subjective feelings of power resulted more from within-participant situational fluctuation

, such as the social roles participants held at different times, than from stable differences between people.

How do you respond to power plays?

  1. Flow and Find a Connection. The best way to respond to a power play at work is to flow with it instead of fight against it. …
  2. Use Affirming Language. …
  3. Stand Your Ground. …
  4. Know When the Situation is Beyond Resolution. …
  5. Use Your Powers for Good.

How do you gain power and respect?

  1. Be relentlessly proactive. Don’t always wait for direction from others.
  2. Keep your promises. …
  3. Stop apologizing. …
  4. Don’t waste other people’s time. …
  5. Stop gossiping immediately. …
  6. Stop being too nice. …
  7. Practice humility. …
  8. Have a moral code.

What are power play techniques?

A power play is

an attempt to gain an advantage by showing that you are more powerful than another person or organization

, for example, in a business relationship or negotiation. Their politics consisted of unstable power plays between rival groups.

How do you give up control in a relationship?

Set aside time to talk without interruption and turn off televisions and phones.

Try and be warm towards your partner

, regardless of frustrations or disagreements. Tell your partner what you are feeling even if it may upset him or her. Really listen to and observe your partner.

How can I control my partner?

  1. If you feel like you need to control your man’s actions, try setting some guidelines in advance. For example, ask that he only spends one or two nights away from home with his buddies. …
  2. You can also set some rules about how to communicate with one another.

How do I change power dynamics in a relationship?

  1. Let Your Thoughts & Worries Be Known. …
  2. Ask Yourself A Few Questions. …
  3. Use “I” Statements. …
  4. Call In Reinforcements. …
  5. Be Consistent. …
  6. Bring Your Best Self To The Table. …
  7. Turn Your Relationship Into A Practice. …
  8. Be Clear About What You Want.

What are the positive effect of power?

A person with power commands prominence, respect and influence in the eyes of others. Possessing power means that

a person is able to influence others more easily and perform his/her job more effectively

. Power relationships affect how managers and employees work together to make decisions and manage.

How sharing power can increase someone’s power?

Sharing Power Creates Trust

Co-

leadership increases loyalty and respect

, which in turn creates positive relationships with minimum conflict. That’s because when a leader empowers employees, they feel trusted and capable.

How can power be used to influence behavior?

People with power are

able to influence others behavior to achieve a goal or objective

. Others may resist attempts to make them do certain things, but an effective leader is able to overcome that resistance. … Another way to view power is as a resource that people use in relationships.

How does power influence human behavior and social activity?

Research suggests that

power makes us more susceptible to being proactive and making the first move

(for instance, in negotiations). Power-holders are also more likely to engage in socially unacceptable behaviours, such as the display of poor table manners.

Is power an either/or concept in our relationships?

It is considered to be an

either/or definition of power

. … Designated power “gives” power to a certain relationship rather than power being held by individuals or even a team. For example, in designated power, people confer power on a marriage, a work group, a family, or a group of friends.

How does power affect communication?

Communication and power are related because of

how power is expressed via communication strategies

. Power is a capability or potential to get something done against resistance but is not limitless. … Essentially, power use is a communicative behavior that allows for people to understand and respond to social situations.

Why is human power important?


Power gives people the ability to control themselves and their environment

, and this control is considered a fundamental human need. We investigated whether experiencing powerlessness induces the experience of self-dehumanization using three methods: priming, role-playing, and cueing.

Why is it important to have power?

Having power is

having the freedom to control our lives and our destiny

, which above everything else will help us achieve happiness, longevity and health. Having limited power in our lives is stressful because it induces feelings of helplessness.

What does power mean in psychology?

In psychological science, power is defined as

one’s capacity to alter another person’s condition or state of mind

by providing or withholding resources—such as food, money, knowledge, and affection—or administering punishments, such as physical harm, job termination, or social ostracism.

How do you use power play in a sentence?

Examples of power play in a Sentence


They scored their first goal on a power play. He made a power play to seize control of the company.

How do I make my boyfriend respect me?

  1. Understand Where His Lack Of Respect Comes From. …
  2. Show Him Your Smarts. …
  3. Take Control. …
  4. Respect Yourself First. …
  5. Respect In The Workplace. …
  6. Respect From Friends. …
  7. Respect In Relationships. …
  8. Respect Him.

How do you respect yourself in a relationship?

  1. Demonstrate trust. Trust is essential in any relationship, even non-romantic ones. …
  2. Be mindful of how you communicate. …
  3. Be reliable and accountable. …
  4. Encourage time apart. …
  5. Appreciate your differences. …
  6. Get to know yourself.

Why do I need control in a relationship?

The need for control often stems from different

types of anxiety and fear

. … They may try to influence or control the behavior of the people around them so that their relationships are predictable and do not fuel their own anxious thoughts. That may not always be the case though.

What does it mean to be a power player?

A power player is

an individual who attempts, successfully or not, to assert undue influence, dominance

, or control over the group.

How do you gain power?

  1. Become an expert by increasing your knowledge. …
  2. Maximize your current level of power. …
  3. Require more of yourself. …
  4. Harness your influence over others positively. …
  5. Exercise your power.

How do you let things go?

  1. Create a positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts. …
  2. Create physical distance. …
  3. Do your own work. …
  4. Practice mindfulness. …
  5. Be gentle with yourself. …
  6. Allow the negative emotions to flow. …
  7. Accept that the other person may not apologize. …
  8. Engage in self-care.
Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.