Brigid Callahan Harrison's Use Of Power To Control A Society

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Power, as defined by Brigid Callahan Harrison “is the capacity to affect the conduct of individuals through the real or threatened use of rewards and punishments.” Power is an ever-changing relationship between the individuals, groups, and institutions in a society. To exercise power, one must control the values respected by society. These ideas and values include economic, political, social, psychological, and cultural ideas about the nature of society. Power is exercised on a societal level to enact a specific agenda, for people are frequently motivated by their ideologies. These integrated systems of ideas rationalize and justify the use of power to control a society. Social science is the study of human behavior, giving people a greater understanding of the forces that modify the conduct of individuals and their behavior. Government’s possess legitimate authority, giving them the right to threaten people with the loss of their freedom as a means …show more content…

Anthropologists describe humans, societies, and power structures and various points in time and in various places. Psychology is used to study the behavior of people. Sociology is the study the structure of formal and informal groups, their functions and purposes, and how they change over time. Sociologists have determined that all societies have some system of social stratification. The stratification system involves the unequal distribution of power. An individual’s occupation will determine their social ranking as well as the amount of control they have over economic resources. Power derives from social status, prestige, and respect, in addition to their control over economic resources. Economics is the study of the production and distribution of scare goods and services. Economists study the choices made about goods and services by individuals, businesses, and nations. Political science is the study of government, political processes and political

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