Power Currencies

Power Currencies are “how much your particular resources are valued by the other persons in a relationship context (Wilmot & Hocker, 2011). They are called power currencies because they are similar to money. There are four different types of power currencies that people can have over one another. They are called R.I.C.E.; Resource Control, Interpersonal Linkage, Communication Skills, and Expertise. Your power depends on these types of “currencies,” because power depends on having currencies that other people need. And in return, if other people possess currencies that you need, they have power over you (Wilmot & Hocker, 2011). For example, one power currency that I have is that of resource control (pg. 118.) Resource control comes with ones position in an organization or group. It can also be identified with controlling punishments or rewards. I am a Resident Assistant at Carlow University. I am in charge of a floor of girls in the residence hall. I must enforce the rules, keep order, and be a resource of information to my girls. I have resource control over my floor. I have the ability to control their resources, their rewards, and their punishments. I can approve them to have an overnight guest or deny them that right. I have the ability to punish them by writing them up if that are not following the rules. And I have the ability to reward them with fun floor parties every month or so. I have a resource power currency over my floor. On the other hand, a currency someone has over me is that of Expertise. The expertise currency is identified by special skills or knowledge in a particular area. The person with expertise currency I am referring to is the Verizon employee who helped me when I got a new phone. A few months ago, I bought an iPhone. I was so happy and could not wait to play with it! (Because that’s what phones are for, right?) I had had my phone for about a half of an hour. We left the Verizon store and my phone would not turn on. I tried to restart it and nothing happened. I tried to plug it in, thinking it was dead, and nothing happened. I was panicked! They gave me a faulty phone. I immediately went back to Verizon and asked for a new phone. One of the workers assisted me. He took my phone, held in two buttons at the same time, and my phone turned on. He said that every once in a while, that happens, but not to worry because it is normal. His special talents for this phone and his skills and knowledge of knowing this product allow him to have Expertise Currency over me. Power currencies are something very intriguing and it is interesting to think about your power currencies that you could have in many situations.