Lesson 6 Social Power Theory

A complete, ready-to-teach lesson exploring French and Raven’s (1959) five bases of social power: legitimate, reward, coercive, expert and referent power.

Designed especially for teachers new to psychology, non-specialists and experienced teachers looking to save preparation time.

What’s included?

1. Detailed Teacher Guide (Word)

• Clear, accessible explanations of social power theory.
• Step-by-step 60-minute lesson plan with timings.
• Practical examples, teaching guidance and common misconceptions.
• Model answers, evaluation guidance and differentiation.

2. Student Worksheet (Word)

• Structured guided notes and retrieval activities.
• Application scenarios to develop understanding.
• Comparison of social power theory and agency theory.
• Evaluation and exam-style practice with dedicated answer spaces.

3. Editable PowerPoint (12 slides)

• Clear explanations of the five bases of social power.
• Examples and classroom discussion activities.
• Questions linked directly to the student worksheet.
• Presenter notes to support confident teaching.

Why choose this resource?

The three resources work together to provide a carefully structured lesson that develops students’ knowledge, application and evaluation skills.

Particularly useful for teachers delivering psychology for the first time or working as the sole psychology teacher in their school.

All resources are editable and can be adapted to suit different classes and teaching styles.