The Persuasive Power scale is based on the concept of bases of power. The instrument has the following objectives:
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To help respondents become aware of the different bases of power
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To help respondents understand how much they value each power base and how much they feel the need of either power base (sufficiency - deficiency)
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The instrument helps people explore the consequences of their power profiles
Kurt Lewin defines power as 'the possibility of inducing forces (influence) of certain magnitude on another person"
Influence can be used to force the other individual into accepting what the influencer wants him or her to think or do (fear power, direct influence, position power, push energy, overt influence) or influence can be used to help the individual think independently or do things voluntarily (love power, indirect influence, personal power, pull energy, covert influence).
The first has the element of coercion and the second that of persuasion.