• Psychology -> Social and Personality Psychology

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Can social power be earned or is it always inherited?

Milly Tunnicliffe

Hey!

Regarding your question on whether social power can be earned or inherited, my take on this would be that it can be a bit of both.

Firstly, for those who are born into a family with wealth and influence, some level of social power is undoubtedly inherited. These people may have doors opened for them that others do not, simply because of who their family is. However, this kind of inherited social power is not always permanent or transferable to future generations.

On the other hand, many people earn their social power through hard work, dedication, education, and relationships. Those who achieve a high level of education, build successful businesses, or make significant contributions to society in some way may also earn social power. In other words, social power can also be earned through extraordinary achievement.

Furthermore, I believe that social power can also be earned by consistently demonstrating positive qualities and behaviors. In my opinion, those who are seen as trustworthy, accountable, and ethical are granted a certain degree of social power because people believe in them and rely on them. Similarly, those who are kind, empathetic, and supportive and willing to help others earn social power because they inspire trust and loyalty in those around them.

In sum, social power can be inherited or earned, depending on a person’s circumstances and effort. Inherited social power may be passed down within families or social classes, but it is not necessarily permanent. Meanwhile, earned social power can be achieved through education, hard work, and contributions to society, but can also be related to a person’s character and behavior.

What do you think? Do you agree?