Social Power

Over the past twenty years, I’ve developed two theoretical obsessions: the first –personality theory; and the second– the theory of social power. While both come together to help me understand humans as personal beings of power, it seems I’m asked to expound upon and explain social power more.

Maybe there’s more information out there that already explains our individuation (personality) as humans,  more so than our power as humans. Or maybe what’s out there on social power is still in the grasp of social scientists and not quite accessible to lay people. Either way,  I thought it would be fun, if not practical, to share my research on social  power in a way for all to understand. And to do so, I’m going to talk about it as related to gravity.

Now, I will admit. This piece will still be academic (or academic-ish)…layered with ridiculously extended sentence and paragraph structures. But, using gravity as a metaphor, this piece should hopefully do what metaphors are designed to do… illustrate something complex in a way that is consumable.

I thought it would be fun  if not practical, to share my research on social power in away for all to understand.

First, let’s talk about gravity…

From hundreds of years of study, science has classified energy into two forms: kinesthetic and potential. Kinesthetic energy is energy in motion such as a ball leaving the hands of a basketball player. Potential energy is different as with this form of energy, there is no motion. It can be stored, inactive or in waiting. Regardless, the capacity for released energy is what then is called power.

So, energy (both kinesthetic and potential) as a starting point in this discussion first situates power as force. There are four basic forces known in the universe: gravity, electromagnet, strong nuclear pull, and weak nuclear pull. [Note: There are actually five forces but the fifth force is still being investigated.] For the sake of this essay on power, we only need to use one of these forces to illustrate the point; therefore, gravity is being selected as it is more commonly understood in contrast to the others.

In short, gravity is a force that draws anything with mass towards each other.  While not yet proven, it is theorized that all mass releases gravitons which are like particle codes of conduct, instructing and directing the gravitational pull. The size of the mass and its distance from other objects determines the degree of the pull and as a result the level of force that is experienced. This unknown code of conduct and its relational and proximal force serve as a key component to understanding social power.

Energy  kinesthetic and potential, as a starting point in this discussion, first situates power as force.

Now, let’s talk about socal power…

There are six ways that social power is on par with gravitational power.  First is the delineation of potentiality. Whether the power is potential or applied, it does not matter. Power is. Similar to potential gravitational power, latent social power sits in the backdrop as though it is inactive. Yet, by way of it’s potentiality, the individual maintains their ability to control. Whereas applied social power is in front, visible and carrying risks, latent power is in the backdrop, with no apparent actor, carrying little to no risks…still having influence all the same.

The second way social power is on par with gravitational power is in its inherent nature. As mass is part of the physical world, people are part of society.  How people interact with one another is central to what we define as the social experience, and as related to social power, there are levels to this experience.  At the highest level there is structural power. With the structural, interactions are guided by institutions, systems and laws.  Then there is cultural power where interactions are guided by norms, messages, traditions and arts.  Third is interpersonal power where interactions are guided by one-to-one or one-to-group dynamics. Finally there is the intrapersonal power where interactions are guided by what is within (mind, motivations, memories and moods).  Just like gravitational power inherently functions with mass interacting with other mass(es), social power inherently functions with individuals interacting with other individuals.

The third way social power is on par with gravitational power is in its positionality (and, as a result, relationship) within context.  As stated previously, gravitational power causes objects (mass) to pull (interact) towards one another. That pull denotes gravitational power as relational as is the case with social power.  With social power,  individuals and institutions (of the social world) are in an interacting relationship with one another– as in over, under and with. As with an object-to-object pull within gravity, individuals are subjected to each other based on a similar positional pull. Those with more positionality within the social hierarchy, have more pull (power- over). Those with limited positionality have less pull and therefore are controlled and rendered to a state of dependency (power-under). [Note: Power-with is a possibility but it is extremely rare in our hierarchical society.]

As with an object-to-object pull within gravity, individuals are subjected to each other based on their positionality. 

The fourth way social power is on par with gravitational power is in its variance and impact. First let me offer some more basic information regarding gravity. 1) All objects have matter (which is enacted upon by gravity); 2) All matter has weight (which is the accelerated force of gravitational enactment); and 3) All weight is not the same (which is due to the unequal degrees in which gravity is distributed across different bodies [i.e. matter]). As a result of these three basic points, we understand that gravity is a force but it isn’t equal.

Such is the case with social power. Whereas a pound is a metric (or indicator) for physical weight, social outputs can serve as metrics (indicators) for social weight. Using my Empowerment Framework as a shameless plug, I would like to offer the tenets of the first principle as the metric (or indicator) of social power: “Production, prosperity and promotional growth” (Empowerment Starts Here, p. 7). Like the variance of weight based on the variance of gravitational forces, so will the variance of production, prosperity and promotional growth (as social outputs) be based on the variances of social forces. For example, some people might produce and prosper while others will prosper only while not having to produce (which is a key distinction between money and wealth). So, in short, the variance of the production, prosperity and promotional growth (indicators of social weight) depends on the variance of the impacting force. As a result, social power, like gravitational power, varies and is distributed unequally across different bodies (i e. human demographics).

The fifth way social power is on par with gravitational power is in the dimension of weight. While weight was mentioned above as a force to be measured, this fifth point requires us to delve a little deeper into what the force of weight actually is. In short the force of weight is simply the accelerated impact of gravity on matter. The size of matter and its proximity to other matter determines the degree of acceleration. Such is the case with social power. In the social world, with humans and social interactions being the inherent nature of the social experience, size and proximity show up as “influence, independence and control” (a paired down scope of power as researched and defined in my dissertation). The acceleration of social power on people and their interactions with each other determines the existence (and ultimately the weight) of the social power that is present.

To give this fifth point relevance, the influence, independence, and control phenomenon of social weight determines how people will relate to one another. Depending on the amount of acceleration each person experiences from social power will determine how they situate themselves in proximity with each other… as in over, under and with. It also will determine how each person will scale (measure in social power) differently… as in production, prosperity and the promotion of growth.

Considering social weight in context leads to the sixth and final condition of social power… instruction. Yes, like gravitational power, social power is instructive. As stated earlier, it is widely accepted among scientists that gravity works by these tiny little things called gravitons. Gravitons are codes of conduct on all matter that then instruct gravitational power. Earlier in this essay. I likened people in the social world to matter in the physical world. Keeping that analogy, social scripts, narratives and norms become the gravitons (or the codes of conduct) in the social world. Just as physical gravitons dictate the level of gravitational acceleration (force), these social gravitons dictate the level of social power acceleration. With the before mentioned point about equality, that all matter (bodies) does not have the same gravitational pull, such is the case in the social world. This variance of power is due to the instructive nature of social gravitons.In short social power is not distributed equally as dictated by social scripts, narratives and norms.

The acceleration of social power on people and their interactions with each other determines the existence (and ultimately the weight) of the social power that is present.

The entire point of this essay was to make clear the nature (rules) of social power. Here’s what I offered…

1. Social power should be best understood as “influence, independence and control” (The phenomenon of student powerlessness and student achievement, 2014).

2. Social scripts, narratives and norms act as codes of conduct determining both the acceleration (weight) and distribution of social power.

3. The acceleration (weight) and distribution of social power is measured (identified) by a person’s (or group’s) output (defined [Empowerment Starts Here, p. 7 ] as “production, prosperity and promotional growth.)

4. Whether potential or active, power is power. Meaning, a person who holds social power by way of race, class, ability etc. will always have it even when they attempt to suspend it.

5. Social power manifests differently, yet consistently, across different spheres of the social world: structural, cultural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

6. At each sphere (whether individual to individual, individual to group, or individual to psycho- historical scripts), power is weighted and shows up as over, under, or with. Note: “With” (or withing) is hard to obtain due to cultural mandates of the western world.

Here is the bottom line. We are social beings in a physical and social world. Not only are we governed by gravity as a universal force but we are also governed by social power as a universal force. Like gravity, this force is instructed by gravitons (i.e. influence, independence and control), is not distributed equally, determines how we position ourselves in proximity with one another (within different levels of interactions) and, whether or not the power is active or inactive, it is measured (as in the degree of distribution) by our outputs (i.e production, prosperity and promotional growth).

Not only are we governed by gravity as a universal force but we are also governed by social power as a universal force.

Having a clearer understanding of social power paints a better picture of the social experience and strengthens our relationship with each other as social beings… conjoined in this thing called the social contract.