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 life we ​​often follow the directions of other people or organizations, while others follow ours. It is a process by which an agent influences the behavior of others, modifying, inhibiting or causing 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 one another to maintain a certain social order more or less stable. In this article we are going to look at 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 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 exercising it being able to 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 personregardless of whether it is deserved or not. It can come from respect for the capacities or virtues of the person or institution, from the desire to receive some type of reward or reinforcement of said person or fear that punishment will be imposed in case of refusing to obey.

Depending on where it comes from or in what sense or aspect it is applied, we can find different 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 depending on 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 authority types. It is about 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. 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 kind of authority that comes from being provided with some kind of positional superiority to an individual with respect to others, allowing them to have decision-making power On these. 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 scope or task).

2. Moral authority

Moral authority is understood to be that is awarded based on respect for the qualities manifested by the leaderEither because of their experience or because of their moral characteristics. It is not based on the charisma, but in respect for what the person represents. Like 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 morals).

According to Weber

The issue of authority has been studied since the sociology by different authors. One of them was Max Weber, which proposed three other types of authority.

3. Traditional authority

It is 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 subordinates. Based on the charisma capacity of the person in charge, born of 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 captured as in accordance with social norms, being accepted as legitimate.

Power relations exercised in the family

Authority is exercised in numerous spheres, both at the social, work and family level. In this last area, four types of authority have stood out. Although they focus on the family, these are elements that can be extrapolated to other situations and institutions.

6. Authoritarian or coercive authority

It is a type of inflexible authority, which tends to be prolonged 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 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, said sanctions are generally comprised within a framework previously established between all of them. It is found mainly in the world of the family or in cooperative companies.

8. Inconsistent authority

It is a type of authority that is exercised inconsistently, varying the rules and orders and not having the same results according to the moment or circumstances. The limits are not clear. It involves a high degree of confusion in whoever follows it, and in the long run it can cause reactance and disobedience.

9. Permissive or laissez-faire authority

Although a type of authority is considered, the main problem with this type of power relations is that there is no limitation or regulation itself, or that it is weak. The subordinate can do whatever he pleases, not having an exercise of authority properly speaking.

Other types

Apart from the previous classifications, we can find other types of authority, some being considered subtypes of previous classifications.

10. Operational authority

This kind of authority It is sole proprietorship, although it is generally granted by others. On this occasion, power is not exercised over the people themselves, but authority is had with respect to a certain issue 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 people who obey do so because of group membership specific that in principle is committed to accepting 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 of social position, but of the predisposition to organize and to accept another's orders. Authority can pass from one subject to another with ease, with no formal recognition of it. It is born of mutual acceptance, closely resembling charismatic, personal and moral authority.