In Social Exchange theory, power arises from what?

• A. Power arises when a person controls resources that others value.
• B. Power originates only from formal authority.
• C. Power comes exclusively from personality.
• D. Power is equally distributed at all times.

Answer: (A)

Power in Social Exchange theory comes from controlling resources that others value. When one person has access to something valued by another, the other becomes dependent on them, giving the resource holder leverage over outcomes. This fits the view that social interactions are exchanges aimed at maximizing benefits and minimizing costs, so the more valuable and scarce the resource, and the fewer good alternatives the other person has, the greater the power they hold. Keep in mind that power isn’t about formal authority or personality traits; those can shape how power plays out, but the source of power here is control of valued resources and the resulting dependence. Power dynamics can also shift over time as resources move or as alternatives appear, so it isn’t assumed to be evenly distributed.