First proposed by Boyd Rollins and Stephen Bahr in 1976 and later revised by Norah Dunbar, dyadic power theory (DPT) emphasizes the relative perceived power of partners in a relationship. From a social–psychological perspective, power is generally defined as the capacity to produce intended effects and, in particular, the ability to influence the behavior of another person even in the face of resistance. Dunbar asserts that power is an integral part of any relationship but is especially important in close romantic relationships because it determines how the partners relate to each other and how decisions are made. The theory assumes that perceptions of legitimate authority to make decisions and to exert control over a variety of resources increase individuals’ perceptions of their own power compared with that of their partner. Perceptions of power, in turn, increase the likelihood of using dominance as a way to control the interaction through a mechanism Rollins and Bahr call control attempts but what Dunbar often refers to as dominance.

Littlejohn, Stephen W and Karen A.Floss. (2009). Encyclopedia of Communication Theory.USA:SAGE.654

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Gayes Mahestu
Edwina Ayu Kustiawan