how can power be used and abused when communicating on difficult, sensitive and complex issues can anyone give me any advice plaese

Hi trish,

See here for French and Raven's 5 forms of power:

http://changingminds.org/explanations/power/french_and_raven.htm

eg. Expert or referent power could be used by a doctor to pressure an individual into accepting treatment rather than explaining what it is and what it involves ie "You wouldn't understand if I explained it"

Coercive power could be used by a care worker to confuse an individual and get them to make choices that worker wants rather than what they want.

and so on.

Hope that helps

Aunty Sue

thank you aunty sue i have done it now