Write a reaction paper about a contemporary leader (someone you know personally or a public figure) and the way this person uses power.Leader chosen: Barack Obama – Former U.S. President
- Type of Power Used: Referent Power & Inspirational Power
- How He Uses Power: Known for his eloquence and calm demeanor, Obama used his charisma and vision to unite and inspire diverse groups. His power often came from his ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and compassion.
Use specific examples to support arguments on how the power used fits the French and Raven Category Table 1.1: Six Bases of Power seen below. Explain how the concept of social power provides a useful way to understand this person’s leadership.
|
Referent Power |
Based on followers’ identification with and liking of the |
|
Expert Power |
Based on followers’ perceptions of the leader’s |
|
Legitimate Power |
Associated with having status or formal job authority. A |
|
Reward Power |
Derived from having the capacity to provide rewards to |
|
Coercive Power |
Derived from having the capacity to penalize or punish |
|
Information Power |
Derived from possessing knowledge that others want or |
Source: Adapted from French, J. R., Jr., & Raven, B. (1962). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Group dynamics: Research and theory (pp. 259–269). New York: Harper & Row; and Raven, B. H. (1965). Social influence and power. In I.D. Steiner & M. Fishbein (Eds.), Current studies in social psychology (pp. 371–382). New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.
Submission Instructions:
- The work is to be no shorter than 2 pages nor longer than 3 pages in length (not including the cover or reference pages).
- Citations should be referenced according to the current APA style.