The 12 Types Of Authority (in The Family And In Society)
Laws, social norms, obligations and rights, tradition, following the line of command in a company… In our daily lives we often follow the instructions of other people or organizations, while others follow ours. It is a process through which an agent influences the behavior of others, modifying, inhibiting or provoking a certain behavior.
The reason why people follow these instructions is that a relationship of power and influence is established between the different agents, exercising the authority of some over others to maintain a certain more or less stable social order. In this article we are going to observe 12 types of authority that occur both in the family and in society in general
In a generic way and without going fully into any of the different types of authority that we can find, we can define the concept of authority as the type of relationship of power and influence that is established between two or more people through which one of the agents has the power to modify the ways of acting or thinking of other people or beings the person who exercises it can make decisions that are obeyed to a greater or lesser extent and with a greater or lesser degree of acceptance by others.
Authority is the power you have over another person, regardless of whether it is deserved or not. It may come from respect for the capabilities or virtues of the person or institution, from the desire to receive some type of reward or reinforcement from said person, or from the fear that punishment will be imposed if one refuses to obey.
Depending on where it comes from or in what sense or aspect it is applied, we can find various types of authority that we can see below.
Types of authority according to their origin
Firstly, we can organize the types of authority into two categories depending on whether it appears due to social imposition or due to conviction in the capabilities of the individual who holds it.
1. Formal authority
One of the basic types of authority. It is the type of authority that is exercised due to aspects that do not derive from respect for the capabilities of the other, but from their position and the ability to administer rewards and punishments. It is considered that the authority is imposed and assigned by others without the followers in principle having influence on it (although the assignment of said authority may have derived from prior respect).
Specifically, it is the type of authority that comes from having provided some type of positional superiority to an individual with respect to others, allowing them to have decision-making power over them. It is the one that depends on the position or status quo. It can be subdivided into linear (based on a hierarchy) or functional (focused only on a specific area or task).
2. Moral authority
Moral authority is understood to be that which It is awarded based on respect for the qualities manifested by the leader, either because of their experience or because of their moral characteristics. It is not based on charisma, but on respect for what the person represents. Like charismatic authority (which we will see later), it arises from recognition and not imposition. It can be subdivided into technical (based on knowledge and experience) and personal (based on morality).
The topic of authority has been studied from sociology by different authors. One of them was Max Weber who proposed three other types of authority.
3. Traditional authority
This is the type of authority that confers power through tradition and custom, the subordinate having been taught to be so. The orders of superiors are justified by the subordinates themselves. Power is heritable, irrational and can be delegated.
4. Charismatic authority
This is one of the types of authority that is possessed with the agreement of subordinates. Based on the charisma capacity of the person in charge, It is born from respect and admiration for the characteristics of the leader They are accepted as justified due to said respect for the faculties or way of being of the subject in question.
5. Rational authority
Also known as bureaucratic or legal people obey this type of authority because their decisions are perceived as in accordance with social norms, accepted as legitimate.
Power relations exercised in the family
Authority is exercised in numerous areas, both at the social, work and family level. In this last area, four types of authority have been highlighted. Although they focus on the family, they are elements that They can be extrapolated to other situations and institutions
6. Authoritarian or coercive authority
It is a type of inflexible authority, which tends to last through domination and the exercise of force Followers accept it due to fear of punishment or withdrawal of rewards.
7. Democratic authority
This is one of the most valued types of authority. In it, there are limits to behavior that are clear and defined, although is valued and takes into account the opinion of each member This causes the generation and implementation of innovative ideas to be more frequent. Although behaviors can be sanctioned, these sanctions are generally included within a framework previously established by everyone. It is found mainly in the world of the family or in cooperative companies.
It is a type of authority that is exercised in a inconsistent manner, varying the rules and orders and not having the same results depending on the moment or circumstances. The boundaries are not clear It entails a high degree of confusion in those who follow it, and in the long run it can cause reactance and disobedience.
9. Permissive or laissez-faire authority
Although it is considered a type of authority, the main problem with this type of power relationship is that there is no limitation or regulation per se, or it is weak. The subordinate can do whatever he wants there being no exercise of authority per se.
Other types
Apart from the previous classifications, we can find other types of authority, some being considered subtypes of previous classifications.
10. Operating authority
This type of authority is unipersonal, although it is generally granted by others On this occasion, power is not exercised over the people themselves, but authority is held regarding a certain issue or action. It is what gives the right to act in a certain way or to make decisions regarding certain aspects.
11. Administrative authority
This is one of the basic types of authority, in which people who obey do so because of group membership specific that in principle it is committed to accepting such orders. Although it resembles rationality, in this case it does not arise whether what the authority stipulates follows basic legal precepts.
12. Informal authority
It is a type of authority that It is not born from social position, but from the predisposition to organize and to accept the orders of another. Authority can pass from one subject to another easily, without formal recognition of it. It is born from mutual acceptance, largely resembling charismatic, personal and moral authority.
