Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards, Power and Imbalanced Exchange

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards
Power
Imbalance Exchange
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Peter Blau, an Austrian-born scholar immensely contributed to the field of sociology. Like George C. Homans, Blau became interested in investigating actions that guide physical engagement in people. He argued that reciprocal interchange of rewards, both intangible and tangible, tends to shape such interaction (Barbalet, 2017). From this perspective, Homans hugely influenced Blau’s research, although the dissimilarities between these two theorists outstrip the resemblances.

While Homans predominantly studied exchange connection to reveal the behaviorist ideologies that inspire interaction, Blau’s analysis pursued social interaction for better comprehending multifaceted institutions that arise from modest exchange relations between people (Barbalet, 2017). He not only withdrew from the behavioral psychology concept postulated Homans after knowing that imbalances of rewards permeate exchange relationships but also underscored the contribution of power, norms, and inequality to interactions. Therefore, the paper discusses Blau’s concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, power, and imbalanced exchange.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards

Blau expounds on the types of rewards that ensue from an interaction or exchange between individuals. Intrinsic reward refers to things that provide pleasure not because they offer the means of getting other benefits. Such a reward expresses an individual’s dedication to the relations and is swapped with the best interest of upholding it (Barbalet, 2017). Rather than concentrating on the relationship or material gain arising from the interaction, it is the exchange itself that is valued.

For instance, I find intrinsic reward by proceeding to vacation with family members. On the contrary, extrinsic payments are separate pleasures from the relations building them. Therefore, they are not the gratification of the exchange itself, but rather reflect the end prices arising from such an interaction (Dillon, 2020). For example, I often get extrinsic motivation from scoring high grades in various tests since my parents usually assess and judge my academic performance.

Power

From Weber’s outlining of authority, Blau underlines the prominence of prizes in persuading people to comply with anticipated desires. According to him, a person can exercise power over others, especially when he can provide required rewards to them (Blau, 2017). When others cannot get awards from other sources and are not positioned to provide further benefits, they become highly dependent on such an individual. The viable option for them is conforming to the required instructions (Blau, 2017). For instance, I see power stemming from the unequal exchange from a group’s or individual’s monopoly over anticipated resources.

Imbalance Exchange

In outlining power regarding the disparity of possessions, Blau reflects the processes that guide authority and circumstances surrounding its resistance. These processes subsequently account for change and stability in group and interpersonal relationships in more polygonal social institutions (Dillon, 2020). Drawing inspiration from Talcott Parsons’s work, he posits that lawful power is anchored in collective standards, which limit one’s reaction to commands. Therefore, an imbalanced relation is administered less by functional intentions rather than cultural morals that legitimize them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Blau’s work on intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, power, and imbalanced exchange contributed to constructing a theoretical bridge that vastly links sociological studies of daily interaction between individuals and the structural parameters of society. Intrinsic rewards trigger pleasure while extrinsic prizes are those separable pleasures from the relations in which they have been attained. Blau accentuates the significance of prizes in persuading people to conform to one’s wants. Imbalanced exchange is directed less by practical intents than combined hopes and cultural standards that legitimize them.

References

Barbalet, J. (2017). Social exchange theory. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, 1(1), 1-11. Web.

Blau, P. (2017). Exchange and power in social life (2^nd ed.). Taylor & Francis.

Dillon, M. (2020). Introduction to sociological theory: Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century (3^rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

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Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards, Power and Imbalanced Exchange

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