NCJ Number
122333
Date Published
1987
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Conversations that were covertly recorded by the FBI demonstrate how the seven basic types of power that exist in a conversation are influenced by two main factors: the hidden agenda of the government agents involved in the conversations and the fact that the conversation is taking place for the benefit of a later audience.
Abstract
The seven types of power are the power of known conversational significance, the power of the controlled agenda, the power of the camouflaged agenda, the power of the created atmosphere, the power of the blocked agenda, the power of conversational isolation, and the power of deliberately unclear use of language. The Abscam case of Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr., the Abscam case of Congressman John Murphy, and other cases illustrate the uses of these strategies, although a single case usually does not involve all of the strategies. The tape recordings also show that the government can abuse its conversational power when making covert recordings and point to the need for attention to the ethical issues raised by the imbalance of power involved. 3 references and figures analyzing specific conversations.