Power

By Joseph Han
What do the raging fists of Muhammad Ali, a seductive wink from a lovely lady, and a cupful of coffee all have in common? The answer to this question is a word so broad it is impossible to capture its essence in a mere dictionary definition—power. Not only is power the force of a punch, the distraction of a lady, or the energy from caffeine, but the modern use of the word can be related to almost everything. The broadness of this word is what makes it unique. The first known use was during the 13th century. Deriving from the Anglo-French word pouer, power simply meant “to be able” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Over time, the definition of power has expanded to mean much more than its original definition of ability. In a science, power continues to expand its meaning. For example, in 1882 the International System of Units created a “unit of power” called the watt (Oxford English Dictionary). In this scientific context, power is not referring to its original definition of ability, but rather a new meaning—energy. In fact, thesaurus.com even lists energy as a synonym of power. Although power is used in many other contexts, as shown above, the majority of this paper will focus on the interpersonal meanings power. Over time, the meaning of power has become especially more associated with interpersonal matters. This is due to the immense increase of human interactions in both local and global communities. Transitions from rural to urban life, advancements in technology, and surges in the world population are only a few examples of major contributing factors. Many synonyms of the word power consist of characteristics that make leaders and groups successful. These include capability, influence, strength, and authority (thesaurus.com). However, when examining leaders and groups, it is important to take a deeper insight into characteristics that create a powerful group. In order for a group to be powerful, talent and teamwork are essential in addition to the synonyms listed above. This can be shown in the groups illustrated in Warren Bennis and Patricia Biederman’s book “Organizing Genius.” Not only did a powerful leader recruit individuals with exceptional talent, but the leader also ensured there was group entitativity. Individual talent, effective leadership, and entitativity are all essential elements in creating a powerful group. Powerful groups are often associated with strength, prestige, and supremacy. Military groups or the team of executives in a large corporation, for example, are often considered powerful because they wield characteristics such as force and influence. However, a group does not have to possess dominant characteristics or have a large sphere of influence for it to be a powerful group. For instance, Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) does not have any affect on anyone outside the group. Instead, AA members use the discreet nature of the group to help each other overcome their problems. However, AA is still considered a powerful group because of the substantial affect it has on improving its members’ lives. Social power is “the degree of influence that an individual or organization has among their peers and within their society as a whole” ( businessdictionary.com).Economic power and political power, both forms of social power, hold the largest degree of influence in today’s society. The growth in international business has connected everyone in the world and continues to increase the power economics has over our lives. For example, the American Stock Market crash in 1929 occurred in America but sent the entire world economy into a depression. The scope of the crash reached far beyond the United States to countries all around the world. Increases in technology and rises in international affairs also play important roles in the expanding influence social power has in modern society. This can be shown through the growth in the size and impact of wars, the advances in weapons, and the introduction of widespread media. What used to be wars fought between quarreling regions has turned into wars involving the entire planet. For example, if a small country with little power acquired nuclear weapons, they would then possess enough power to start a nuclear war. In other words, modern weapons and technology have given us humans the power to eliminate our own race. Cultures view power in their own different ways. Religious cultures, for example, often look to their god as a source of power. The 11th-12th century Crusades and the Jihad (holy wars) of Middle Eastern countries are examples of cultures drawing upon the power of their god to wage wars. Prayer is another example of different cultures attempting ways to benefit from the power of a god. It is defined by spiritualreaserchfoudation.org as “asking a higher power for something with intense yearning.” Cultures also have various perspectives in the way they invest power in their leaders. Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt were viewed as gods on earth and wielded absolute power. However, the president of the United States, often considered the most powerful man in the world, has many checks and balances to ensure that he cannot abuse his power. Many common interactions are simply acts of power going unnoticed. Something as small as your father’s stern stare can be a powerful force. But there does not have to be an interaction between people for an act of power to occur, even the presence of someone can be enough. For example, a beautiful girl that walks in a room has the power to draw many looks and whispers from surrounding men. Power is a unique word. The broadness of its definitions and the depth of its meanings make it difficult to break down in a short paper. But after all, this is what makes the word power such a powerful word. Citations // "Power." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. . // // "Social Power." BusinessDictionary.com - Online Business Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. . // // "Watt." Home : Oxford English Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. . // // Synonyms of “power” Thesaurus.com – Online Thesaurus. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. < //[|//http://thesaurus.com/browse/power//]// > //