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Examining the intensity and quality of the five energy domains may help gauge the appetite for social movement action. Each energy domain can be assessed for:
- its intensity (low to high);
- its quality, whether negative (for example, where there is doubt, anger, skepticism, fear or blaming present] or positive (for example, where there is hope, courage and faith present).
There are four possible outcomes: comfort, activism, aggression and resignation, as shown in the graphic below.
The intensity and quality of the energy domains
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SOURCE: Land et al., 2013.
Remember: Social movements need the energy of Activism = high intensity (that is, a high level of engagement or involvement to fuel the change) + positive quality (that is, motivation, altruism and excellence) energy domains
Examples of enhancing and depleting sources of energy for each domain of energy
| Enhancing energy sources | Domains of energy | Depleting energy sources |
|---|---|---|
| Relationships amongst groups that are authentic, engaged, empathetic, autonomous, and that have a high level of emotional awareness. | Social | Relationships that are characterized as disconnected, lacking connection, apathetic, isolated, or fearful. |
| Purpose; co-creation; integrity; passion; commitment; clear vision | Spiritual | Conflicts; coercion or use of buy-in; crisis; lack of belief in purpose |
| Motivation; awareness; confidence; aspiration; safe environment; purpose; role models; resilience; determination; trust | Psychological | Fear; apathy; lack of trust; setbacks; fatigue; bullying ; resistance; compliance; lack of caring about the change |
| Healthy people; regular renewal; appropriate and safe staffing and workload | Physical | Stress; being overworked; disconnection, exhaustion |
| Learning; opportunities for professional development; purpose; focus; challenge | Intellectual | Being overworked; lack of discipline; distractions; "reinventing the wheel" |
SOURCE: Land et al., 2013.
