Any place, to include work, home, social setting, where you gather and communicate you will encounter authority. Indeed, authority is what keeps our social fabric together. Hence, without authority we would quickly descend into chaos. This article will explain to you what sociologists say about authority, what is the difference between power and authority, and the six types of authority we encounter in our daily lives.
Sociologists Categorize Authority Into Three Types.
Max Weber, a German sociologist, defines authority as “the ability to exercise one’s will over others“. Further, Weber categorized types of authority as follows:
- Charismatic Authority. First, this type of authority comes from personal charisma. Here people believe in a charismatic leader. For example, Martin Luther King Jr.
- Traditional Authority. Second, this type of authority is rooted in the past based on traditions and customs. For example, monarchy.
- Rational-Legal Authority. Lastly, this type of authority is legally based where a government, organization or a group of people have given an individual or ruling group the authority to exert power. For example, President.
See Introduction to Sociology’s Power and Authority for more on Weber’s three types of authority.
To Better Understand Authority You Need To Understand How It Differs From Politics and Power.
So to better understand types of authority, there is a need to understand the differences between the terms power, politics, and authority. To explain the differences, see below.
Power. First, power is the ability to accomplish a goal either by compliance or by obedience. In particular, the key word is the Ability, be it legitimate or illegitimate power.
Politics. Second, politics consists of social relations involving the use of power or authority to formulate and apply social policy. Normally politics is thought of in terms of government, but it can apply to any social group of more than two people.
Authority. Normally authority is thought of as a formal and legal right to exercise power. Further, authority is based on at least on the predicate of perceived legitimacy.
See Wikipedia’s Authority for more details on the interplay of authority, power, and politics
6 Types of Authority We Encounter In Every Day Life.
Authority is an integral part of society. Further, authority is the glue that keeps a society or organization together. Also, authority enables individuals or groups to assign tasks, allocate resources, make decisions, and to enforce compliance. In the absence of authority, social order breaks down leading to widespread disruption and chaos. What’s more social values such as security, our freedoms, and peace are threatened. Below are types of authority we encounter in our every day lives.
- Legitimate Authority. This is grounded in formal authority. Specifically, the individual holds power by virtue of their position within an organization’s hierarchy. For example, a judge.
- Charismatic Authority. This captivates others through their presence, communication, and leadership qualities. Further, it commands immediate obedience by forming a hierarchical relationship between the leader and follower. For example, Hitler, Martin Luther King Jr.
- Longevity Authority. This stems from the duration an individual spends in a position or within an organization. Due to longevity, individuals usually possess a profound comprehension of the organization’s operations, culture, and history. For example, an elderly statesman or elderly grandparent
- Empowerment Authority. This is the ability to enable others to act on their own authority and make decisions. It is exemplified by a leader who delegates responsibilities and trusts their team members to take ownership of projects. For example, an assigned student group leader for a temporary assignment.
- Punitive Authority. Here an individual has the ability to punish others if they have broken rules. For example, judge.
- Reward Authority. Here an individual or group has the power to reward others for positive actions and behaviors. For example, a manager gives out a bonus to an employee.
See Betterup.com’s Types of Authority for more details and examples. Also, for more on authority and power, see Unvarnished Facts’ article, A Perspective On Types Of Power That Empower Results In People Through Authority, Self, Social Influence.
For more information from Unvarnished Facts, see articles on accountability, politics, and culture.
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