The 12 types of authority (in the family and in society)
Laws, social norms, obligations and rights, tradition , the follow-up of the line of command in a company ... In our daily life we often follow the indications 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 indications 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 social order more or less stable. In this article we are going to observe 12 types of authority that occur both in the family and in society in general .
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The concept of authority
In a generic way and without entering fully into any of the different types of authority 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 that is held over another person , regardless of whether it is deserved or not. It may come from respecting the abilities or virtues of the person or institution, from the desire to receive some kind of reward or reinforcement from that person or from the fear that a punishment will be imposed in case of refusing to obey.
Depending on where it comes from or in what sense or aspect it applies, we can find various types of authority that we can see below.
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Types of authority according to their origin
In the first place, we can organize the types of authority into two categories according to whether it appears by social imposition or by conviction in the capacities of the individual who holds it.
1. Formal authority
One of the basic types of authority. This is the type of authority that is exercised due to aspects that are not derived from respect for the other's abilities, but from their position and the ability to administer rewards and punishments. The authority is considered is imposed and assigned by others , without the followers having in principle influence on it (although the assignment of such authority may have been derived from prior respect).
Specifically, it is the type of authority that comes from having been given some kind of positional superiority to an individual over others, allowing them to have decision-making power over them. It depends on the position or status quo. It can be subdivided into linear (based on a hierarchy) or functional (centered only on a specific scope or task).
2. Moral authority
It is understood the moral authority that 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 the charismatic authority (which we will see later), it arises from recognition and not from imposition. It can be subdivided into technical (based on knowledge and experience) and personal (based on moral).
According to Weber
The issue of authority has been studied from sociology by different authors. One of them was Max Weber , which proposed three other types of authority.
3. Traditional authority
It's about the kind of authority that confers power Through tradition and custom , having taught the subordinate to be. The orders of the superiors are justified by the subordinates themselves. Power is inheritable, irrational and can be delegated.
4. Charismatic authority
It is one of the types of authority that is possessed with the agreement of the subordinates. Based on the charisma ability of the person in charge, born of respect and admiration of 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 captured as in accordance with social norms, accepting themselves as legitimate.
Power relations exercised in the family
The authority is exercised in numerous areas, both socially, as a work and family. In this last area, four types of authority have been highlighted. While focusing on the family it is about elements that they can be extrapolated to other situations and institutions .
6. Authoritative or coercive authority
It is a kind of inflexible authority, which tends to continue through domination and the exercise of force . Followers accept it due to fear of punishment or withdrawal of rewards.
7. Democratic authority
It is one of the most valued types of authority. In it, there are limits to behavior that are clear and defined, although it 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 the behaviors can be sanctioned, these sanctions are generally understood within a framework previously established between all. It is found mainly in the family world or in cooperative companies.
8. Inconsistent authority
It is a type of authority that is exercised in an inconsistent manner, varying the rules and orders and not following the same results according to the time or circumstances. The limits are not clear . It supposes a high degree of confusion in those who follow it, and in the long run it can provoke reactance and disobedience.
9. Permissive or laissez-faire authority
Although it comes to consider a type of authority, the main problem with this type of power relations is that there is no limitation or regulation itself, or it is weak. The subordinate can do what he pleases , not having an exercise of authority proper.
Other types
Apart from the previous classifications, we can find other types of authority, some of which are considered subtypes of previous classifications.
10. Operational authority
This type of authority it is unipersonal, although it is generally granted by others . On this occasion the power is not exercised over the people themselves, but the authority is regarding a certain topic or action. It is the one that gives the right to act in a certain way or to make decisions regarding certain aspects.
11. Administrative authority
It is one of the basic types of authority, in which the people who obey do so because of belonging to a group specific that in principle is committed to accept such orders. Although it resembles the rational, in this case it does not come to question whether what the authority stipulates follows basic legal precepts.
12. Informal authority
It is a type of authority that it is not born from the social position, but from the predisposition to organize and to accept the other orders. The authority can pass from one subject to another with ease, not having a formal recognition of it. It is born of mutual acceptance, resembling to a large extent the charismatic, personal and moral authority.
