Power's sources and legitimacy
What are the main sources of power that impact your life?Which of these sources and forms of power are legitimate? Which are illegitimate? How can we tell the difference between illegitimate and legitimate power?
posted by djw @ 10:06 AM
25 Comments:
I think the power of "wealth" or simply put, "money" really influences a persons life. Without money, a person cannot do much, cannot freely live. A person with money can afford the medical costs as oppose to a person w/o money; just like a person with alot of money can receive the best medical treatment as oppose to a person who can only afford the minimal medical treatments.
It is also very difficult to determine whether or not "money" is legitimate or illegitimate. This is because the power of money/wealth is very much legitimate--why else are we going to college and trying to get a degree? We all want to get high paying jobs. At the same time, the power of money/wealth is very much illegitimate because not every one can be wealthy and have high paying jobs.
The power of wealth really has much control over a person; it can limit ones ability to live freely or pleasurably.
--Michelle Chang
The main sources of power that impact my life are my parents, emotions, addiciton, knowledge, the government, money, materials, television, social standard, beliefs and values.
To distinguish which of these sources of power to be legitimate or illegitmate would depend on the individual itself. I would believe all of the sources I have listed to be legitimate because it is what I have accepted from how I was raised, taught, and observed.
The main sources of power that affect my life are school, work, and family or friends. In the first two, it is mainly those who control the institutions that wield the power and hence, they have a great amount of power over me and my actions within the institutional boundaries. In the case of family and friends, this is not an institutional influence but rahter a personal choice to allow certain individuals around me to have power to influence my actions. From this, I find all of these sources to be legitimate becasue each has a fundamental support system behind it and I believe each has equal influence over my actions and hence, wields a similar amount of power. These factors would be illegitimate if they were unfounded in their request for power to impact my life and did not have a legitimizing mechanism such as a support system that sustains their legimitacy. Ultimately, this is one of the key differences between legitimate and illegitimate types of power. Those that have a basis for their power and can draw upon a greater influence generally will be more legitimate than those that have no strong foundation or support.
The main sources of power that impacts my life would most likely be my religion, money, education, and family. I believe all these to be legitimate to my life and very important but varies from person to person.
The difference between illegitimate and legitimate power would depend if the power would bring about change for the good or a source of power that does not bring about much change, and has a negative effect. The sources of power that I listed are legitimate to me because of the postive reinforcement it brings to my life.
The main sources of power that impact my life are of course government and parents and the social and religious beliefs that I was raised upon, but even more than that are the restrictions caused by the social construct of our society.
For instance we as a society have a basic shared tenant that to live the life of a normal citizen, one must make money on his/her own to provide at a minimum the basic necessities of life. We do have welfare and poverty reducing programs but those people still don't live the same life as those who respond positively to the power of the accepted social norm of our individualistic and capitalistic society.
As far as what is legitimate and what is illegitimate depends on what power an individual is going to "give into". I believe that if a certain source of power impacts lives than it's not fake. Just like advertising, one may be a sucker for trending schemes, sounds and colors for advertising a product but others may respond to some power (perhaps background or intellect) to be wiser consumer.
-Tom W.
the main sources of power in my life include money, family, and friends. i say this because there are many things that i do or don't do based on the above influences.
as far as legitimacy is concerned, money is an illegitimate influence in my life because it restricts my lifestyle against my consent.
family and friends, however, i care about and truly value their thoughts, opinions, and the way they feel. here's an example of how they have power/influence over me: my family loves me and sacrifices a lot for me to go to school, and my friends have encouraged me not to drop out. thus, i am still in school even though i probably should be working. their power or influence over me is legitimate because i hold these people in high regard and choose to take their advice.
The main soures of power that impact my life are money and my parents. Currently my main goal in life is to graduate from the University of Washington and get a job. While I am the University I also want to enjoy life. This is why money and my parents have power over my life. First of all, fortunately my parents are able to provide for my education. However, I can not take this for granted because if I stop taking my schooling seriously they can this priviledge. Also, as I said I want to enjoy my time here, so I work to earn enough money to have fun.
I believe that both money and my parents, at this time in my life, are legitimate forms of power. Money will always have some sort of power because to live a comfortable life one must make money to pay for your baisc needs; food, shelter, water, etc. As for my parents being a legitimate source of power, I believe they are. I do not think that they will always be a legitimate source of power nor do I believe they will always have power over me. But, as long as they are paying the education I want and need to be success on my own, they will have power over my life, which I think is legitimate.
In my view power is primarily derived from constraints that affect me. For example when I was younger, my parents held ultimate power over the basic constraints of time and place, forcing me to abide by their rules. Similarly, a constraint affecting me now is income, and several entities derive power over me because of their ability to affect my current and future income.
In terms of legitimacy I view power impacting me as legitimate if the constraint which it controls is one that I can determine, or if the impact is beneficial. If a power source impacts me through no desire of mine and provides no benefit then it would be illegitimate.
The main source of power in my life is the government/laws. It effects my behavior the most and can determine/change my behavior. My parents and family are also very INFLUENTIAL, but can't physcially force me to do anything (unless they break the law). Money is, I suppose, a source of power. It can determine what actions you can and cannot take at certain times. I wouldn't say it is as influential as government, because the government assigns money its value/purpose.
I think governments are considered legitimate when they are representative of the population's will. When citizens have a say in who their leaders are and can change policy through some means.
Main sources of power that impact life:
The State
Government
Financial Institutions
Culture
Family
Education institutions
No single ‘power’ can be absolutely legitimate. By nature ‘power’ is dynamic and contains contradictions.
Legitimate power is a subjective term that takes on different meanings depending on who is defining it. Together, a collective group of people legitimize certain powers deemed necessary such as credit agencies and private property. Conflict arises when two or more groups of people have different opinions over the legitimacy of a certain power, such as that of the judiciary in deciding abortion rights. Conflict between groups can lead to the creation of an illegitimate power and its removal or alteration.
There is no absolute that determines a certain ‘power’ legitimate.
The main way power plays an influence in my life is through the universally accepted norms which state how power is dispersed: wealth, class, etc. Those beliefs which I tacitly assented to at the time of my birth, and must adhere to as long as I remain in society.
These forms of power dispersion are illegitimate, for I could no more choose to not comply as I could choose to not be born.
When one makes a conscious choice to vest power in another, while at the same time stripping themselves of the potential for power, then that power is legitimate. If not then it is illegitimate.
I definitly feel that the main sources of power in my life are those that play a powerful role in my day to day life (my boss, my professors, etc..). These people who can use power to positively or negatively impact my life are those that i must appease.
There power is legitamated by their social status. And although we may feel that their uses of power may not be just or fair, we must live with their decisions.
The main sources of power that impact my life are the law, my friends and family, and what is expected of me. At this point I do not know what would make any of these legitimate or not. I would suggest that the law and what is expected of me (from society) are legitimate because there is punishment involved in not complying with the expectations of each. If I break a law, the gornment will punish me. If I do not follow the social pattern I am supposed to follow (going to school, getting a job etc.) society will ostracise me. However, society may not posess a legitimate form of power because there is no written and enforcable law, only expectations.
The reason I list my friends and family as a source of power is because I greatly value their opinions when I make my decisions about my life. They have power over my actions. What may make this power illegitimate is that they may not know they even posess it. There is no punishment from them if I do not take their advice (except maybe from parents who are paying my tuition.) This raises the question of whether or not a source of power needs to be intentional and enforced.
The way I see it right now, all these sources are legitimate because they exist and impact my life.
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Main sources of power that impact my life are love and hate. I believe there is a thin line between love and hate since both draw passion which is, I believe, one of the key components,if not the major source, of power.
The difference between legitimate and illegitimate power lies whether the intention of using power is out of hate or love. Power based on love is legitimate and power based on hate is illegitimate.
Things that have power over my life...strange to think that these things have power when in a sense I feel its not that they have power over my life, but its simply that these are things I value, therefore they are priorities in my life. so does that mean that they then have power over my life? They may influence my decisions, but is that really power? suppose that comes back to what is the definition of power...so here goes...
religion
family
friends
education is important...but not because of the money for me! Money, wealth, what is it really?
i think that the above priorities are legitimate because I allow them to be and I believe in those things and trust in those things..
I think there many powers involved in our lives today. Our parents have power over us if we still live under their roof. The credit card companies have power over us if we owe them money. The Government has the power to set rules for our citizens. I think there has to be a balance of power or everything would be chaotic and senc of order. It is good to have power over other people, but it is also good to be under someone elses power because they are ultimatley responcible to take care of the most important affairs going on around you.
The power of social norms greatly effects all my actions. For example, putting on make up in the morning, saying hello to people I know, going to school, saying "thank you" etc. These are all things that feel like something that I am supposed to do after many years of societal influence. If these norms were not in place, I'm sure my everyday actions would change.
I think these social norms are legitimized by me through my participation with them. I could choose not to participate, and while some people might be put off from my lack of participation, it is none the less still an option.
I think the difference between legitimate and illegitimate power is whether or not one has the option to participate through one's own consent
The main sources of power that affect my life are friends, family, money, societal norms, laws of our country, and communication.
It is difficult to really understand which are legitimate and illegitimate. However, I think that money is illegitimate in the fact that the power is posses can be very contradicting. Although it may give me freedom to buy things i want, or if i don't have enough, restrict me from getting the things i want, whos to say that what I want is always what's best for me? Often times simplicity is best, and by human nature we always want more. My family especially I beleive is the most legitimate form of power in my life, because unconditional love is not something that can really be out-beat or contradicted. Friends for the most part I think are legitimate, however, I beleive that sometimes friends can have alterior motives which questions the legitimacy of their power. Another way I look at it is that often times also friends don't know the power they posses over me. Same applies for societal norms, laws, and communication. The power they hold can be both restrictive or open up opportunities, sometimes for better or for worse.
The most powerful element in my life is my identity. The wealth of my experience, and the influences on me over time have built this power. You could say that the sources of the power are familial support, and adversity.
This source of power is legitimate. People may choose whether they accept me or not. I do not force others to work or identify with me. This power is also a mandated source of power in our society of rugged individualism. The concept of the individual itself is a source of power. It is a source of power that has very much defined me.
The source of power in my life comes from my religious beliefs, the government's influence in my life (laws, regulations), my desire to become financially secure, and the influence of my friends.
I believe these sources to be legitimate, but on an individual basis. For example, other people probably do not share exactly the same religious beliefs as I do, or for that matter, my views on the laws and regulations that the government places on its citizens. In order to consider a source of power to be legitimate, I believe that you have to look at how that source of power affects that person, whether it has a "significant" (life changing) impact on their lives.
There are many sources of power that impact my life. The power of my parents, the power of money, teachers, the government, my values and the values of those around me.
I think that all these forms of power are legitimate...all except that of money. I don't believe something so tangible should have as much power as it does. Something like money, which is literally a piece of paper, shouldn't be able to affect PEOPLE, who life and breath.
I don't think that it is easy to tell the difference between illegitimate and legitimate power, and that it is a personal choice. Some think that the power of money is legitimate, so it would be a choice to agree or not to agree with that stance.
The main sources of power that influence my life are social norms, religion, family, friends, and money. These are all examples of legitamate power in my life which vary from person to person. These norms are legitimized through my decision to adhere to them. The question of illegitimate power came up while think about money, however the power of money is legitimate because wealth is a legitimate form of power. Illegitimate power for me has to be something that someone else would adhere to that i would not. It would be something that they live their life by that i do not.
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The source of power in my life comes from my parents and education. Growing up in korea my whole life, to me interaction with my parents and listening to what they have to say have been very important factors when I make decisions. In general Korean parents wish their children to occupy high positions in society therefore, they sacrifice everything to help the children suceeed in life. therefore, I usually depend on my parents and they want me to listen to them and follow their directions. Same goes to education, now, school has power over me, graduating depends on the classes I take, they can influence me in many ways like getting jobs, personal satisfaction, etc.
I beelive taht above mentioned power sources are legitimate because mostly, these motivate me to do well and succeed in life, and it gives me something to depend on and live with... they do not affect me in bad ways...
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