Påverknad

Påverknad is a Norwegian noun that denotes influence, effect, or impact. It describes the capacity of a factor to cause a change in another thing, and the resulting change itself. The word is derived from the verb påverke/påvirke (to affect), with a noun-forming suffix. In standard Norwegian, the common spellings are påvirkning in Bokmål and påverknad in Nynorsk, with Påverknad as a form used in some Nynorsk texts.

The term is used across many fields to discuss how factors shape outcomes. In environmental contexts, miljøpåvirkning refers to the environmental impact of a project or process. In politics and public life, politisk og sosial påvirkning describes how groups, media, or events influence opinions or decisions. In psychology and sociology, the concept is applied to analyze how individuals or communities are affected by others or by social conditions. The word can denote both intended effects (influence or persuasion) and unintended consequences (side effects).

Some writers distinguish påvirkning from innflytelse, with the former emphasizing measurable effects and the latter focusing on power or sway. In practice, the terms are closely related and can overlap depending on context. The concept is frequently used in policy making, research, and everyday discourse to describe how various factors shape outcomes in society, the economy, and the environment.

Related terms include innflytelse and effekt. Miljøpåvirkning, politisk påvirkning, and sosial påvirkning are common compound forms illustrating the range of contexts where Påverknad is applied.