Power (communication)

Based on work originally proposed by the social psychologists French and Raven, there are six different breakdowns of power in interpersonal communication: referent, legitimate, reward, coercive, persuasive, and expert.

Ways people give up their power are by being over-polite, backing down from an argument, using a title (such as Doctor or Professor) when addressing another, allowing interruptions when speaking, and specific clothing choices can also suggest a loss of or way people give up power to others.