Power-Dependence Relations

“Power grows when another party needs what you control and has few alternatives.”

01 / PLAINLY

What it means, plainly

Power-dependence theory treats power as a relationship: it grows when another party needs a resource and has few alternatives.

02 / CONTEXT

A little more

Power-dependence theory treats power as a relation rather than an isolated possession. Dependency changes with the value of a resource and the availability of alternative sources.

03 / WHY IT MATTERS

Why it matters

Changing alternatives can reduce an imbalance without changing anyone's character or formal authority.

04 / EXAMPLE

A familiar example

A small supplier depends on one buyer; finding other customers reduces the asymmetry without changing anyone's personality.

05 / LIMIT

What it does not mean

Power is not only formal authority, visible force, or a dominant trait of the person exercising it.

06 / NOTICE

Notice it in your day

For one exchange relationship, note the indispensable resource, how much it is valued, and which realistic alternative sources each party has.

FINAL NOTE

The idea worth keeping

Map indispensable resources and real alternatives to understand where dependence begins.

QUESTIONS / 02

Questions people still have

What determines power in this theory?

The value of the controlled resource and the availability of alternative sources.

Is power an isolated possession of one person?

No. It is a relationship of dependence between parties.