Power Dynamics In Communication

Human interpersonal and small group communication are complex and dependent on various factors, such as setting and personalities and moods of the people communicating, that significantly influence both the verbal and non-verbal aspects of that communication. Every communication interaction is different and unrepeatable due to the vast number of changing variables that impact how people communicate with each other. One such factor is power dynamics, which in itself change based on various underlying factors. However, it is clear that no matter how they occur, power imbalances greatly influence communication in every form: interpersonal, small group, and mass. For instance, the way one speaks and carries oneself in front of a police officer, …show more content…
I was no exception. In perceiving myself having much more power than I actually did, my heightened confidence drastically altered my verbal and nonverbal communication. Having this power, however, can lead in two different directions: you could use it positively as a role model or to help those that you perceive to have less power than you or you could use it negatively to coerce or intimidate others that you perceive as having less power than you. In both cases, your verbal and nonverbal communication will be similar, but used to achieve different goals. For example, in a positive case, I used my power to help a boy younger than me to write an application for an internship I had done the year before. Despite my helpful intentions, I still remember using domineering language, tones, and body language. My words, in contrast with the meek, unsure ones characteristic of having less power, were instead strong, self-assured, emphasized, are unafraid to be noticed. I set the pace, tone, and level of comfortability of the conversation. My body language exhibited behavior that showed my power and heightened sense of self by often towering over him while he wrote down what I was telling him to. I did not feel judged for my actions, a common symptom of having a low sense of power, and I was oblivious to my surroundings simply because I did not feel …show more content…
A common counterexample to the evidence described here would be as such: You can perceive someone as having more or less power than you and choose to ignore it, thus negating the influence of a perceived power imbalance on communication. To that, I say by ignoring someone’s power, you are perceiving them as having equal power to you, thus establishing a power balance and acting out your communication in an according way. If you proceed even further and, for instance, perceive yourself as having more power than someone when initially you thought they had more power over you, your words, tone of voice, and body language will change to reflect that. The other person or people will either challenge you or react to that show of strength by acting weaker, perceiving themselves as having less power due to the domineering attitude of the person they are talking to. However, for most people a student young adult will interact with, power is equal. The individuals in this demographic, in the scope of the entire world, have similar power except for a few exceptions. It is the power you perceive someone else as having that truly impacts day-to-day communication, either weakening or strengthening it, to reflect