Coercive Power: Definition, Types, and Examples

Coercive power is when someone in a position of power uses the threat of punishment to force subordinates into complying with their demands. Fear of punishment is the incentive to comply. There are many types of coercive power, including expert power, legitimate power, reward power, and informational power.

The term “coercive power” comes from psychologists John French and Bertram Raven, who researched and studied the form of power at the University of Michigan. The duo theorized that there are six different types of power among people, governments, and institutions. According to French and Raven, the bases of social power are:

1. 1. Coercive power: This type of power gets you to comply with something you don’t want to do through the use of force or punishment. Coercion is a type of authoritarian power used to prevent insubordination; for example, your boss threatens to fire you if you don’t complete a project on time.
2. 2. Expert power: Expert power is when a person is an expert with special knowledge, experience, or skills. Doctors wield expert power when they give you medical advice that you then follow.
3. 3. Informational power: Informational power is when an entity or person wields power as a resource of information, which they can then use to manipulate the opinions or knowledge of others. Social media companies have a great deal of informational power.
4. 4. Legitimate power: Legitimate power comes from an appointed or elected leadership role. The Queen of England holds a position of legitimate power.
5. 5. Referent power: Referent power comes from individual group members respecting their community’s beliefs and organizational behavior. An example of referent power is when you follow the moral teachings of a charismatic religious leader.
6. 6. Reward power: Reward power motivates a desired behavior by offering or denying a reward. An example of reward power is when a parent promises a child ice cream if they finish their homework.

Coercive power moves occur in both professional and interpersonal settings. Here are some examples:

1. 1. At work: A manager threatens a team member with demotion if they don’t work long hours with no excess pay.
2. 2. In politics: The government of a country coerces a weaker nation to accept its sovereignty, or they will declare war by invasion.
3. 3. In school: A school bully demands a student do their homework under the threat of physical violence.

Though coercive power can effectively fight noncompliance in the short term, it may be the most destructive of all forms of power. The use of threats has many disadvantages, including:

1. 1. May lead to backlash: The type of leadership in an organization directly affects the well-being and job satisfaction of the group’s members. Over time, the use of coercive power can lead to resentment and retaliation, such as employee walkouts or strikes.
2. 2. Inhibits growth and innovation: When you work under constant threat, fear of punishment can consume you, reducing your personal power and leaving no room for the joy of creativity or innovation. These working conditions can cause the organization to stagnate.
3. 3. Requires constant supervision: Resorting to threats to enforce compliance only works if you are there to supervise since there’s no motivating factor in continuing if no one is watching.
4. 4. Requires follow-through on threats: For coercive power to be effective, you must carry out your threats, which can be counterproductive. If a team member quits instead of finishing a project, you now have two dilemmas: an unfinished project and hiring a new employee.

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