The degree to which someone has power is the degree to which you give it to them. There are six different breakdowns of power in interpersonal communication: referent, legitimate, reward, coercive, persuasive, and expert.

• Referent power is power given to someone because you like them.
• Legitimate power is based upon position.
• Reward power is the power a person has over you because they are offering something you want.
• Coercive power is the power a person has over you because you are afraid of a punishment or consequence they can impose upon you.
• Persuasive power is the power a person gains over you by convincing you to see things from his/her point of view.
• Expert power is the type of power a professional possesses due to their expertise.

Ways people give up their power are by being over-polite, backing down from an argument, using a title (such as Doctor or Professor) when addressing them, allowing interruptions when speaking, and specific clothing choices can also suggest a loss of or way people give up power to others.

Human communication