1. Is There A Fourth Face Of Power? Evolutionary Biology, Physiology, and Powerlessness.
- Author
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Pierce, Douglas
- Subjects
- *
POWER (Social sciences) , *SOCIOLOGY , *BIOLOGICAL evolution , *ANIMAL social behavior , *POLITICAL science - Abstract
Power and powerlessness remain important topics in the political science literature. Since Lukes (1974), power has been viewed as possessing three dimensions: the ability to affect behavior, the ability to limit alternatives, and the ability to influence thoughts and perceptions. Intimately connected to notions of power are questions of quiescence. Why do people "chose" to remain powerless? Why do some individuals and groups rise up against the power holder while others submit passively? Rather than invoking institutional factors, this paper attempts to frame the issue of power and powerlessness in terms of evolutionary biology. Social animals have relatively stable dominance hierarchies. Position in the hierarchy is coupled with changes in the hormonal balance of the animal's brain. The biochemistry of animals at the bottom of the scale leads to higher stress levels and a more lethargic attitude. This paper considers the applicability of this idea to powerlessness in mankind. It postulates a "fourth face" of power, a physiological one. Investigations into this area could have important theoretical ramifications both in understanding the nature of powerlessness and in finding novel ways of breaking the cycle of powerlessness. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...
- Published
- 2009