B.E.S.T. slave training

Interpersonal forms of power

and how they effect the control of a slave.

Interpersonal forms of power  are the way a Master obtains compliance to his rules, motivates his slave to achieves his goals and obtains her obedience.   These are the powers she gives him to rule her.    Not only  are strong interpersonal forms of power necessary to properly train a slave, they are essential in her  long-term management.   

Interpersonal forms of power: (the ways one person has power over another)

• Reward power  -  ability to control the reward a slave wants.  This provides reinforcements for correct behavior or changes in behavior or attitude.  The slave complies in order to obtain rewards controlled by the Master,

• Coercive Power - ability to cause a slave to have an unpleasant experience.  It is also defined as the power to give or withhold punishment.   It is also associated with using force to compel compliance.   The slave complies in order to avoid punishments controlled by the Master.

• Legitimate power - is based on position or mutual agreement.  The slave agrees to accept her Master and grants him authority.   Often this is formalized in a contract.  The slave complies because  the Master has the right to make the request or issue the order and she has the obligation to comply.   Legitimate power is very important is a Master/slave relationship.  

   

• Reverent Power - an elusive power that is based on interpersonal attraction.  It is the perception of being a reference point or role model. The slave identifies with her Master and the Master is individualistic and respected by his slave.   Reverent power infers a personal connection between Master/slave.  The slave complies because she admires or identifies her Master and wants to gain the her Master’s approval.

• Expert Power - specialized knowledge or skills the slave desires and/or needs.  The slave complies because she believes that her Master has the knowledge necessary to correctly do something.

  Three conditions must exist for expert power to be effective:

  • 1)  trust,  
  • 2)  knowledge that is relevant and useful, 
  • 3) perception as an expert by the slave.

If used alone each of the three following types of power leads to compliance. (Reward, coercive and legitimate)

Reverent power is the most effective.   

Expert power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction.

The Master/slave relationship relies heavily on reverent, expert and legitimate Powers.   If the Master has a strong reverent power and she believes he has the knowledge and ability to train her (expert power),  the more legitimate power she is willing to grant her Master.  The Master's ability to properly train her depends on having legitimate power.

Sources of Power:

Reward power is Reward based

Coercive Power is fear based

Legitimate Power is position based

Expert Power is knowledge based

Reverent Power is personality based.  

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REWARD POWER:  

In slave training, rewarding a slave for good behavior is a powerful tool because it shows her that she is pleasing you.   Pleasing her Master is very important to a slave and  any reward by a Master to a slave for good behavior is well received by her.

The reward should be given to a slave while she is demonstrating proper behavior.  In general,  the 4:1 rules should apply, that is apply four times as much positive reinforcement (reward power) as punishment (coercive power).

COERCIVE  POWER

Coercive power is looked at in detail under the sections, consequences of bad behavior and punishment.   Although not called coercive power in these sections, that is what  is actually described.  

LEGITIMATE POWER

A slave contract, rules of submission, protocols, and guidelines are forms of legitimate power.  By agreeing to a slave contract , the slave turns over certain powers, freedoms, and responsibilities to her Master.   Written rules and a contract make it clear what the slave is agreeing to and increases legitimate power.  

Legitimate power establishes what the slave has given her word to uphold.

Because written contracts and rules helps define legitimate power, I think they are important.

REVERENT POWER

This involves the personal interaction between a Master and slave.  It is her respect for her Master as her owner.  Her desire to be owned by him and her desire to please and obey him, allows her to grant him reverent power over her. 

Her relationship to slavery and a Master's ownership of her depends on the depth of reverent power.  If there is no reverent power there is no slavery.   Respect and honor are factors that determine the amount of reverent power she grants her Master.

EXPERT POWER

The importance of expert power can't be understated.  It relates directly to the trust a slave has in her Master and the slave's belief that her Master possesses the knowledge to train her. This is why it is important for new Master's to read information and attend educational events to improve their skills.  

CONCLUSION

It should not be confused, these 5 powers are powers a slave grants her Master.

Taking steps to strengthen the interpersonal forms of power can have a long-term positive effect on training and slave management.  The use of reward power strengthens a Master's control  by causing the slave to seek more rewards by pleasing her Master.  The proper use of punishment strengthens coercive power by causing the slave to avoid displeasing her Master.  An agreed to contract and written rules that are enforced increases legitimate power.  Reverent Power is increased by forcing the slave to act "as if" and by increasing her personal bond with her Master, this creates a stronger sense of belonging to her Master.  Demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to training a slave increases expert power.  

All interpersonal forms of power act together in the process of training a slave and overcoming resistance and reactance.   Training a slave is not just reward power and coercive power, in fact, they are of little value without the others existing as well.

Reverent and legitimate powers are key elements in setting goals for a slave.