Power accompanies all human history and is an invariable element of any social system. Today, there are various interpretations of power as a social phenomenon.
Instructions
Step 1
Most of the classical theories consider power in the form of the ability and ability to exercise one's own will. With the help of power, you can determine the activities and behavior of people. There are different types of power - social, economic, patriarchal. But a special place belongs to political power, because it is distinguished by the supremacy and commitment to the execution of power decisions.
Step 2
Power as a social phenomenon consists of two elements - the source and the subject. The sources of power can be very different. Among them, authority, force or law are distinguished. Power is always subjective. At the same time, it acts as a two-sided element, suggesting the dominance of the ruler over the object. Individuals or social groups, institutions, organizations or the state can act as a subject of power influence. They influence the behavior of other people, groups, classes (objects of power) through orders, subordination, punishment or rationing. There is no power without the subordination of the object.
Step 3
Power performs a number of socially significant functions. This is the integration of society, regulation and stabilization of life, as well as motivation. Power should strive for social progress, as well as contribute to the improvement of society. To maintain law and order, to counter crisis phenomena and conflicts, the authorities can exercise their repressive functions.
Step 4
The phenomenon of power lies in the fact that, on the one hand, power gives the ability to satisfy one's ambitions through the use of other people for its own purposes (this is expressed in the division of society into masters and subordinates), and on the other hand, power is a way of social integration and ordering the life of society …
Step 5
In the scientific literature, various interpretations of the definition of power are presented, which focus on various aspects of this phenomenon. The most widespread are teleological, behavioral, systemic, functional and psychological approaches.
Step 6
Teleological theories interpret power as a way to achieve their own goals. They extend power not only to relations between people and social groups, but also to human interaction with nature. In the latter case, it is said about the power of man over nature.
Step 7
Behavioral (or behavioral) theories treat power as a specific type of behavior. Within its framework, some people dominate, while others obey. Supporters of this approach believe that the source of the emergence of power is the personal motivation of people to rule, because this allows a person to acquire wealth, a certain social status, security, etc.
Step 8
Psychological theories try to understand the subjective motivation behind the pursuit of power. According to supporters of psychoanalysis, it is due to the sublimation of suppressed libido, the desire to compensate for spiritual or physical inferiority. The emergence of dictatorial totalitarian regimes, according to psychological theory, is associated with the desire of leaders to compensate for the traumas received in childhood.
Step 9
Proponents of the systems approach associate the emergence of power with the need to ensure social communication for the implementation of common goals. Power, in their opinion, allows integrating society and regulating conflicts between different groups.
Step 10
The functional theory considers power as a way of self-organization of society. Its supporters believe that normal human existence is impossible without it. In their opinion, the very social structure dictates the expediency of dividing the functions of management and subordination.
