Monday, 11 May 2015

Power and responsibility

I have found that power and responsibility can either complement each other or be opposing forces, depending on the nature of relationships between people.

The imbalance of power and responsibility in domestic violence relationships

Chris Burke presented the diagram below in the ECAV Workshop Contexts and Connections and I have found it useful in dialogueing with women experiencing domestic violence. 

The client is asked to identify the level of power they feel in their relationship and plot this on the diagram, and then to do the same with the level of responsibility. After this they are asked to do the same in terms of the levels of power and responsibility they perceive their partner to have. Lines are respectively drawn between the two numbers allocated for power and the two numbers allocated for responsibility and these lines graphically portray any imbalances (usually with the woman carrying lots of responsibility whilst having little power, and her partner displaying lots of power but little responsibility). This opens up discussion about what this tells her about her relationship.

Power without responsibility

This can be quite dangerous and lead to exploitation, bullying and abuse. We have probably all been subjected to people who act this way and have had to carry the damage from the trauma of the experience.


Responsibility without power

This is also a very uncomfortable place to be in and can leave one feeling quite helpless but burdened. Workplaces sometimes put employees into this position, without recognising or understanding the impact it will have.

Power with vs. power over

"Power with" assumes that power and responsibility work together and balance each other by using co-operation, consultation and participation, and sharing, rather than imposing, power. Participants in the relationship balance each other's needs and personal power is not used in ways that diminish others. The Conflict Resolution Network portrays it diagrammatically as follows:



Whereas "power over" is about controlling, demanding and criticising, leaving others feeling excluded, alienated and controlled. This is how the Conflict Resolution Network portrays it:




Reference: Conflict resolution Trainer's Manual 12 Skills Handout Masters (2nd Edition):
http://www.crnhq.org/pub/CR%20Trainers%20Manual%202nd%20edition%20/CR%20Trainers%20Manual%202nd%20ed%20pdf%20files/T%20Handout%20Masters%202nd%20Ed%20web%20625kb.pdf

I don’t believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.  HAROLD GREEN



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