Final answer:
Groups use coercive power to enforce rules and expectations by applying negative sanctions. Coercive power is distinct from other forms of power like reward power, expert power, or referent power. Sanctions, whether positive or negative, function as a means of social control. Option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of groups to sanction members for breaking rules or failing to meet expectations is known as coercive power. This type of power is related to the use of negative sanctions to enforce group norms and expectations. In contrast, reward power would involve providing positive incentives, expert power is based on one's knowledge or skills, and referent power stems from the respect or admiration one commands.
Sanctions are a form of social control that can be either positive or negative. Positive sanctions, like promotions or bonuses, are used to reward behavior that aligns with societal or group norms, whereas negative sanctions, such as arrests or social ostracism, are used to punish behavior that deviates from those norms.
In societies or groups without formal mechanisms of enforcement, power is often more diffuse, relying on the strength of personal relationships and communal consensus rather than on the ability to compel obedience.