People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect. Generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an authority figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true. For instance, a person who sees the flashing red and blue lights of a police car in his rearview mirror usually pulls to the side of the road without hesitation.
Such a driver most likely assumes that the police officer behind him serves as a legitimate source of authority and has the right to pull him over. As part of her official duties, the police officer then has the power to issue a speeding ticket if the driver was driving too fast. If the same officer, however, were to command the driver to follow her home and mow her lawn, the driver would likely protest that the officer does not have the authority to make such a request.
Not all authority figures are police officers, elected officials or government authorities. Besides formal offices, authority can arise from tradition and personal qualities. Based on this work, Weber developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority are traditional authority, charismatic authority and legal-rational authority Weber Modern British Parliament Traditional Authority According to Weber, the power of traditional authority is accepted because that has traditionally been the case; its legitimacy exists because it has been accepted for a long time.
People adhere to traditional authority because they are invested in the past and feel obligated to perpetuate it. A more modern form of traditional authority is patrimonialism , which is traditional domination facilitated by an administration and military that are purely personal instruments of the master Eisenberg In this form of authority, all officials are personal favorites appointed by the ruler.
These officials have no rights, and their privileges can be increased or withdrawn based on the caprices of the leader. The political organization of ancient Egypt typified such a system: when the royal household decreed that a pyramid be built, every Egyptian was forced to work toward its construction. Traditional authority can be intertwined with race, class, and gender.
In most societies, for instance, men are more likely to be privileged than women and thus are more likely to hold roles of authority. Similarly, members of dominant racial groups or upper-class families also win respect more readily. In the United States, the Kennedy family, which has produced many prominent politicians, exemplifies this model. The appeal of a charismatic leader can be extraordinary, and can inspire followers to make unusual sacrifices or to persevere in the midst of great hardship and persecution.
Charismatic leaders usually emerge in times of crisis and offer innovative or radical solutions. They may even offer a vision of a new world order. Charismatic leaders tend to hold power for short durations, and according to Weber, they are just as likely to be tyrannical as they are heroic.
Because so few women have held dynamic positions of leadership throughout history, the list of charismatic female leaders is comparatively short. According to Weber, power made legitimate by laws, written rules, and regulations is termed rational-legal authority.
In this type of authority, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine. A nation that follows a constitution applies this type of authority. On a smaller scale, you might encounter rational-legal authority in the workplace via the standards set forth in the employee handbook, which provides a different type of authority than that of your boss.
Of course, ideals are seldom replicated in the real world. Few governments or leaders can be neatly categorized. Some leaders, like Mohandas Gandhi for instance, can be considered charismatic and legal-rational authority figures. Similarly, a leader or government can start out exemplifying one type of authority and gradually evolve or change into another type.
Sociologists examine government and politics in terms of their impact on individuals and larger social systems. Max Weber studied power and authority, differentiating between the two concepts and formulating a system for classifying types of authority. Why Do We Need Authority? Purpose of Lesson In this lesson you will learn some uses of authority. Terms to Know benefits costs What might happen if there were no authority?
What do you think? What problems might arise? How would you protect your rights? Would you even have any rights? Roughing It The devil seems to have again broken loose in our town. How can the absence of authority endanger lives, liberty, and property? Examining the Situation What problems arose in the town because there was no effective authority? How might authority be used to deal with these problems? Are there similar problems in our society owing to a lack of authority?
What might be done to solve them? How can we use authority? Authority can be used to provide order and security in people's lives. For example, air traffic controllers prevent accidents and provide safety for airplane passengers.
Authority can be used to manage conflict peacefully and fairly. For example, umpires are used to referee baseball games and solve conflicts that may occur. Courts manage conflicts among people over property and other matters.
Authority can be used to protect important rights and freedoms. For example: the First Amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom of expression and belief. Authority can be used to ensure that benefits advantages and burdens disadvantages will be distributed fairly. For example: laws ensure that all children have an opportunity to receive a free public education; parents may require each of their children to help with household chores.
Critical Thinking Exercise Identifying Problems Related to Authority As you read this story, look for problems that call for the use of authority. How was authority used to deal with these problems? What problems at Pacific Central High School still have not been solved? How can you work to promote changes in a situation like this one? Using the Lesson Write a story in your journal about a time in your life when there was no authority to deal with a particular situation. Explain how authority might have been helpful to you at that time.
For example, have you seen authority used to stop a fight at your school? You may also wish to illustrate your story with a cartoon. Read the newspaper for several days. Keep a list of problems you read about that happened because there was no effective authority. After you have finished your list, write a letter to the editor suggesting ways authority can be used to deal with one of these problems. As you watch your favorite television programs, notice how authority is used to deal with problems that arise.
Report what you observe to your class. All rights reserved. Similarly, if responsibility is assigned that is greater than the authority provided with it, the tasks will not be carried out properly. The primary goal of managing the relationship between authority and responsibility in your business endeavors is to find the balance between the two. As a delegator of authority, it is your responsibility to find the right ratio of authority to responsibility that will yield a successful completion of tasks consistently across your workforce.
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