幸福人生？以權力基礎理論探討三個弱勢群體之困境

Happy life? Exploring the Predicaments of Three Subordinate Groups from a Power-basis Theory Perspective

本文以權力基礎理論（Pratto et al., 2011）回顧文獻，盤點三個弱勢群體（性少數者、智能障礙者及社群邊緣人）的處境，以解釋現代社會中，(1)弱勢群體的處境；(2)可能透過怎樣的方式與強勢群體在部分類型權力上趨近；(3)當弱勢群體與強勢群體在部分類型權力趨近時，可能面對的處境。權力基礎理論主張人有不同需求，權力對應不同需求滿足，因此可透過不同的方式展現。本文指出弱勢群體的定義應從其缺乏的核心權力類型切入，並輔以其他類型的權力程度定義之。本文針對三個缺乏不同核心權力的弱勢群體：性少數者在社會上遭到負面評價，甚至一度被歸為精神疾病，欠缺在社群中被正向評價的正當性權力；智能障礙者多難理解現今社會的要求，形成環境與自我意願表達的落差，欠缺滿足環境要求以達生存的知識權力；社群邊緣人在所屬社群中與他人關係少且薄弱，欠缺與他人關係連結以獲得協助與支持的關係權力。除了核心權力缺乏外，權力基礎理論指出不同類型權力間有相互增長的原則，稱為權力增生性。基於權力增生性特性，性少數者、智能障礙者與社群邊緣人不僅在核心權力類型缺乏，在其他類型權力也可能有困境。透過檢視過往文獻，探討這三個群體的困境，擴大現有探討這三個群體的視角，並提供理論基礎，引出後續的研究方向。透過檢視社會現況，進而探討社會改變對弱勢群體可能帶來的助益與其限制，並提出建言。

Based on Pratto and colleagues’(2011) Power Basis Theory, we critically reviewed research evidence of three subordinate groups (sexual minorities, people with intellectual disabilities, and ostracized people) to illuminate the circumstances that they face during the social changes of modern times. We first propose that to define groups as subordinate, we need to evaluate the levels of their core power. In addition, we illuminate the mechanisms of power dynamics to explain 1) the predicaments of the subordinate groups, 2) through what processes subordinate groups could reduce power discrepancies in comparison to the dominant groups during social changes, and 3) the situations faced by the subordinate groups when certain power discrepancies are reduced during social changes. According to the Power Basis Theory, people have different needs and the capabilities for fulfilling such needs are considered as power. We argue that the key aspect in which a group suffers and faces should be considered the core power domain of that subordinate group. We should first investigate the core power of that group before expanding to the discrepancies of other types of power. In this article, we targeted three subordinate groups lacking different kinds of core power. More specifically, sexual minorities lack legitimate power because they have been derogated, even once classified as mental patients. People with intellectual disabilities lack knowledge power because they have difficulty understanding the demands of society, resulting in discrepancies between the environment and one’s will. Those ostracized in society lack relationship power, as they have few and weak connections with others in their social groups. In addition, the theory delineates the fungibility between different kinds of power. That is, having one kind of power is often advantageous in gaining another kind of power, indicating that different kinds of power complement each other. The lack of core power and the nature of power fungibility may put the three subordinate groups further in predicaments. By reviewing existing literature, we present evidence revealing the vulnerable situations of the three subordinate groups, broaden the perspective in studying these groups, and offer a theoretical model which could suggest further directions. We further discuss how social changes may benefit these subordinate groups and what may be the limitations of such benefits.