Authority - what is it in the great psychological encyclopedia

Forming factors

German sociologist Max Weber named three sources (prerequisites) for the formation of public recognition and respect:

Traditions and habits. The longer a person leads, the more others become accustomed to it.
High official status. If a person has the status of a leader, director, then it is easier for us to recognize him as a leader. Weber called this rational validity.
Affective legitimacy. Leadership qualities and charisma are what create informal leaders. These people are confident in themselves, think soberly and clearly, know how to lead, speak beautifully, can unite people and lead them.

Based on these criteria, three types of authority can be distinguished: more formal, less formal and personal. In the first case, we are talking about respect for the position, in the second – for status, in the third – for the individual.

Authority as a tool of power

Power is one of the most attractive social phenomena for humans. Power over your body, your desires, power over nature and, of course, other people. It allows a person to feel his own power and superiority over others.

One of the most effective instruments of power is authority, which ensures almost unconditional obedience to its bearer. This is due to a positive assessment of a person with authority and the conviction of the correctness of the decisions he makes. Such a person wants to trust and obey.

True, depending on the nature of power, the formation of authority occurs in different ways. There are formal and informal aspects of power and, accordingly, the authority of a leader and manager.

Leader's authority

This type of influence is based on a person's personal qualities. A leader has a set of characteristics that attract people to him and provide him with high social status and, accordingly, authority. The following personal qualities are necessary to gain authority:

self-confidence, conviction of one’s rightness and one’s strength;
high level of energy, desire for activities aimed at achieving significant goals;
possession of charisma - a bright personality associated with giftedness, special abilities, primarily in the intellectual and social spheres;
good organizational and communication skills, developed rhetoric and persuasive skills;
acceptance of one’s high status, the need for social recognition and even the admiration of others.

Without these qualities and abilities, it is impossible to become a real authoritative leader, a person for whom people recognize the right to power, that is, the right to make and manage decisions.

The authority of the leader

A manager, unlike a leader, receives power, so to speak, in a ready-made form. His right to influence people is based on formal laws, regulations, resolutions, etc. In fact, a leader can influence people without having authority; for this he has tools of coercion and encouragement. For example, he can demote or promote a person, give a bonus, or transfer him to a less prestigious job.

The manager has management powers delegated to him by the highest authority. Therefore, managers often have no authority at all. And if authority does exist, then it is not based on personal qualities. This is primarily the authority of status. People are accustomed to believing that those who have formal power have reached the position of leader, are obviously smarter, more professional than ordinary members of the group, and, therefore, have the right to make decisions and lead. Having lost his position, such a leader quickly loses his authority.

Even the terms “leader” and “manager” reflect the very essence of the difference between types of influence. A leader is a manipulator; he controls people, while remaining aloof from the immediate process of activity. He is, as it were, behind the scenes, giving orders, shifting the entire burden of implementing decisions onto the shoulders of his subordinates. And the leader leads the group, he goes ahead, taking upon himself the first blow, the greatest responsibility, and the entire burden of joint activity.

There is, of course, a situation when a manager simultaneously has informal authority, that is, he is also a leader. This is the best, most effective option for the successful activities of the group. In addition, it is a condition for a positive psychological climate and helps resolve internal conflicts. But unfortunately, this situation does not always occur. After all, already having the influence of status, a leader often does not want to make efforts to gain personal authority as well.

Authority attracts.

Our professional authority, our authority as a leader, and our parental authority are especially dear to us.

What contributes to your personal authority? Social status is important. People pay attention to what position you occupy in life, whether you have the right to dominate others. Authority grows along with the strength of your character, your self-discipline and demands (primarily on yourself).

True strength always commands respect. Rich life and professional experience is always important. The authority of an experienced master is always higher than the experience of a beginner, especially since his broad outlook and deep knowledge contribute to this. Knowledge is power! Many people use a variety of tricks to create authority, learn to advertise for themselves and make an appropriate impression. In addition to all the previous points, chips enhance authority, without them, out of nowhere - they create only inflated and temporary authority.

Author: N.I. Kozlov

Types of Authority

It is prestigious to be an authoritative member of the community, and many strive to achieve this high status. And there are individuals who, due to their character traits, are literally obsessed with the desire for power. The ways to gain influence over people can be different, and depending on them, different types of authority are distinguished.

True and false (imaginary) authority

True authority is a consequence of a person’s constructive activity and the respect that other members of society have for him. Forming this type of authority requires not only considerable effort and time, but also the personal qualities mentioned above.

It often happens that the desire for power, the desire to control people and benefit from it, rests on the lack of authority. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their time and interests in order to earn respect. If such people are also deprived of moral principles, then they go to gain authority in roundabout ways: they use manipulation, intrigue, hypocrisy, spreading rumors and inciting interpersonal conflicts.

The famous psychologist E. Berne described such actions as social games. Often, with the help of such dishonest methods, a person manages, if not to earn respect, then at least to gain influence over people. This is false or imaginary authority, which, in fact, is not authority, but only a temporary advantage of a person who has managed to fraudulently climb the ladder of status.

Such recognition is unstable; authority not supported by respect and constructive deeds can crumble like a house of cards from one wrong action, another lie or careless word. False authority can lead a person to the status of a “gray eminence”, but he will never become a real leader

Rational and irrational authority

This classification was introduced by one of the leaders of psychoanalysis, E. Fromm.

Rational authority is based on the arguments of reason, on a rational assessment of the qualities, abilities and experience of an individual. The main role in the formation of this type of authority is played by the level of competence - the higher it is, the more stable a person’s influence in a certain area, the more authoritative his opinion and the more trust in him.

So, if we invite a specialist to set up our computer, then we are primarily interested in his competence and professional experience. We trust a high-level specialist, and for us he is an authority in this field. But only in this area. We won't expect advice from him on how to raise children or how to marinate meat for barbecue.

Consequently, rational authority is not universal in nature and has to do not so much with personal qualities as with professional ones. Another feature of rational authority is its tolerance for criticism. Moreover, this type of influence requires constant confirmation of the level of competence and proof of professionalism in practice.

Irrational authority is the influence of power and status. It does not require reflection and does not tolerate criticism. Thus, people often believe that those who are higher in status than them are obviously smarter, more experienced, and more authoritative. Therefore, the boss, the representative of the government, by virtue of his status and rights, is an authority. This is irrational authority, and any attempt to seriously analyze and evaluate the actions of an authoritarian person can lead to disappointment in it.

But many people do not want to think about, analyze the actions of the authorities, since it is more convenient and easier for them to irrationally trust them, to shift the solution of their problems and responsibility for these decisions onto the shoulders of authoritarian individuals.

Main types

In psychology, there are different forms of authority. Each of them has its own characteristics of manifestation. Many people want to gain universal recognition, and for this they choose several paths.

Imaginary and real

Subconscious - what is it, definition

A person receives true authority as a result of his constructive activities. This takes him a lot of time and effort. An individual must have certain personal qualities: confidence, charisma, ability to persuade, etc.

A person does not always understand what authority is and how to achieve it. Some people want quick results. Therefore, they choose the simple path: setups, lies, intrigue, gossip. In this case, they will have false power. This is how a leader gains not the respect of other people and recognition, but the support of influential people. His position is very weak and can be shaken at any moment. In rare cases, false authority helps to become an eminence grise, but not a full-fledged leader with strong power.

Rational and irrational

There is another classification. If a person relies on the arguments of reason and critically evaluates his qualities and abilities, he can gain rational authority.

Important! The higher the level of professional competence, the more serious the recognition.

The peculiarity of this type is that a person becomes an authority in a certain field. For example, a teacher can tell you how to raise and teach children, and his opinion will be valuable. But if he starts explaining how to calculate salaries, then his words will have no weight.

Rational authority allows you to calmly accept criticism

With the irrational view, a person combines power and status. His right to be a leader is not discussed and is simply accepted as truth. Attempts to explain the choice do not lead to success. Often such authority is vested in government officials.

Psychologists do not have a common view on what form of influence is optimal. Each situation requires an individual approach. Therefore, if an individual wants recognition, then he should show flexibility in his reasoning.

Classification of the phenomenon from the point of view of psychology

The definition given to the phenomenon by the famous psychologist Erich Fromm presupposes the existence of rational and irrational authority. The first represents trust in the competence of another person, which he must actually confirm. The second type is based only on high social status, and trust is replaced by fear. The motto “The boss is always right, and if he’s wrong, then see point 1” clearly demonstrates the approach to management in the case of irrational authority.

We recommend: Enneagram: Personality Types

Many works have been devoted to the study of authority; there are quite a few sound theories that explain the mechanism of action of the phenomenon. However, until now experts have not agreed on how to correctly classify this phenomenon. From a psychological point of view, the most important types of authority are:

Internal authority. Implies the existence of internal conviction in the correctness of decisions made, competence as a specialist. The phenomenon is characteristic of strong-willed people who often occupy a high position in society.
Emotional authority implies inner maturity and calmness. People with this phenomenon are characterized by the ability to get along with others and build relationships with people according to the “master-follower” type. Very rarely, internal authority and emotional authority can be combined; people with such a unique phenomenon become charismatic leaders.
Professional authority – characterizes the competence of a specialist.
Public – the authority of the people, the state.
Individual – characterizes an individual personality.

Psychologists pay special attention to false authority, which can take a wide variety of forms. The pseudo-authority of suppression is most interesting; manifesting itself in extreme forms, it can give rise to authoritarian thinking and a sense of impunity in the leader

Distance and detachment from others, which impart an aura of mystery and importance, can also create a sense of authority

The problem of authority in social philosophy

In social philosophy, the concept of authority, unfortunately, has not been sufficiently studied. Many people equate this concept with the concept of power. Meanwhile, this is not entirely true, although authority and power are very similar concepts in content. The government can have authority if it fulfills its functions and meets the interests of the majority of people, and can be deprived of such authority if it is irresponsible to society.

As a phenomenon of social existence, authority is a complex formation. The concept of “authority” means recognition of the subject (bearer) of outstanding achievements, knowledge, skills, abilities, and their significance for society. As a phenomenon of social reality, authority is a very complex and multifaceted phenomenon, insight into the essence of which can be facilitated by the establishment of its classification. In the literature, attempts are made to establish a typology and classification of certain aspects of authority. Some studies have used the fruitful approach of distinguishing between genera, types, types and forms of authority, but there is still no unity in this matter. Overall it remained undeployed. As a rule, only certain elements were designated, in particular types of authority or form. There is no comprehensive approach to typology and classification. All this makes it difficult to understand the phenomenon. In this regard, without claiming absolute truth, we will undertake a consideration of the general classification of authority as a phenomenon of social life. We will proceed from the fact that it is necessary to combine two processes - the development of the object itself and the process of development of ideas about it. We use a systematic approach for these purposes. This approach distinguishes two classes of systems: taxonomic and ontic. Taxonomic, or classification, systems are formulated in the process of cognition and express a set of elements, or objects, related on the basis of similar characteristics and constituting one taxonomic group or class. This is carried out in the course of cognition through mental isolation and comparison according to a certain criterion of objectively existing properties or qualities of the subject of research. Ontic systems are the natural integrity of objects that exist as separate objects in the real world. The nature and society around us act as a set of ontic systems. As an integral formation, the ontic system is an organic unity and a dynamic set of heterogeneous components and elements, the final result of the interaction of which realizes such holistic integrative qualities that are not inherent in its constituent components and elements. Understanding that there is a certain connection between ontic and taxonomic systems, we will try to reflect this when classifying authorities and authoritative relationships. Typology is not an end in itself, it is intended to help to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse objective connections of authoritative relationships, to help further the study of authority as a complex phenomenon.

Authority arises and is formed in certain socio-economic and political conditions. It has different levels (degrees) of manifestation: authority in general, then talent, fame (the highest level of authority) and, finally, the highest level of authority - genius - recognition of a person as having the highest degree of creative talent[1].

Social types of authority differ. Type presupposes that an object possesses essential qualitative characteristics. The social type of authority is determined by the historical era in which it functions, the interests of which class or social group, first of all, it expresses who the bearer represents. In science, the following social types of authority are distinguished: slave, feudal, bourgeois, socialist.

It is important to take into account that society in each formation is heterogeneous, and the authority of an individual is determined primarily by the socio-economic status of people and the prevailing relations of ownership of the means of production. Both authorities and authoritative relationships are not the same. When we talk about the social type of authority, we mean the most typical, inherent only to the authority of this formation. Let's take a slave-owning society; slave-owning authority is associated with it; the indisputable authority of the slave owner, as the owner of the slave, dominates here. But in this society there are also free citizens, between whom there are relationships that have their own specifics, determined by the formation. Thus, authoritative relationships between free individuals were of great importance.

Many thinkers pay attention to the great influence of the moral authority of the individual ruler on the people, this or that commander, philosopher on society. When we talk about any specific social type of authority (slave-owning, feudal, bourgeois, socialist), we first of all understand by it the dominant, predominant type of authority with its characteristic features. At the same time, there may be subtypes, as well as transitional types of authority inherent in transitional types of formations.

Authority as a phenomenon of multifaceted social life is heterogeneous. It is divided into clan communities. An attempt to identify the type of authority was made by J. Bochenski. He writes: “... what is the type of authority? First of all, there is an opinion that authority is a person of this kind: authority, let us say, is a person who ... however, is associated with the application and use of the word “authority”. Here are some applications: “Authority,” it is written in the book “Lexicon of Psychology,” “is the status of a person in connection between two or many individuals... Here authority will be not so much as a person, but as a “status” of a person, and therefore is thought of in interconnection.”

Next, the author examines the problem of “status of relationship” and says that figuring it out “is no easier than determining the type of authority”[2]. It was not possible to find a more or less clear definition of the type of authority in him. Let's try to understand this difficult matter. Genus, as is known, is a concept that reflects a group, category of objects, phenomena, concepts, united by common essential characteristics. It includes a number of less general concepts that are specific concepts[3]. The type of authority is a large community that unites authorities with similar socio-political roles. All authorities are divided into two large types: epistemic (rational), or the authority of knowledge, which is associated with science and rationality, as well as skill and experience. It includes the authority of knowledge, the authority of skills, and the authority of experience. Along with epistemic authority, deontic or purposeful authority functions. J. Bochenski calls them “species”[4]. He distinguishes between proper (namlich) epistemic, or knowledge authority (wissensautoritat), and deontic, or purposive (zielgerichtete) authority. While the first kind is closely associated with science and rationality, with the help of the second kind of authority the emergence of freedom will be associated. Deontic authority is authority determined by regulations: law, state laws, moral principles, orders, regulations, rules, technical norms, traditions, the influence of individuals, religious dogmas, customs, etc. It includes: traditional authority - the authority of traditions existing in society , prescribing certain actions of people, based on the transmission of historically established and perceived as natural and normal norms and values; charismatic authority - authority as a result of confidence in the exceptional abilities and qualities of a person (cult), instilling by a person faith in the special, often supernatural nature of his own mission. Such authority is associated with personal commitment to a leader, endowed in the eyes of his followers with exceptional qualities of wisdom, heroism, and holiness. According to Weber, such authority is inherent in prophets, preachers and political leaders[5]. It is believed that tradition and charisma dominated in pre-bourgeois societies. However, they are also found in modern conditions, especially under the authority of political leaders. Deontic also includes managerial, official authority - authority that arises on the basis of official relations, relations of management and subordination, acquired by virtue of one’s position in a bureaucratic and formal organization, institution, etc. The authority of beliefs also belongs to the same type - this is authority , based on religious positions, dogmas, mystical beliefs, attitudes of various cults, on faith in God, in the exclusivity of religious hierarchs, clergy, shamans, religious institutions, etc.

Within the general (generic) there are communities of a smaller order - specific ones, uniting that specific thing that is inherent only in a certain group of phenomena of authorities of a given kind. Types of authority are primarily determined by the functioning of authorities in a particular sphere of public life. The following types of authority differ in the spheres of public life: economic, political, social, spiritual, scientific[6], military authority, etc. New social types of authority have been discovered, in particular, as put forward in the Brockhaus Encyclopedia - business-functioning authority experts. It is classified as a specialization (for example, scientific, technical, economic or arts)[7]. The types of authority are interconnected and interpenetrate.

Certain types of authority can exist in various forms. Form is the way of existence of given content. Since authority cannot exist in an abstract form, it appears in forms based on various general characteristics. According to the mechanism of formation, that is, through which authority is ensured, they distinguish between formal and natural authority. Formal – the authority of an individual or social institution, organization, created through the functioning of an established system of norms or legitimations of the legal system. Its variety is official authority (official) - authority arising due to official position or position held. This situation is also determined by legal norms. Some share formal and official authority[8]. There is also natural authority - this is authority that functions through the influence of informal reasons, natural influence, which is based on respect for the individual due to his moral qualities, professional skill, knowledge and highly effective actions, strength, dexterity, etc.

The form of authority is determined by its basis, that is, by what it is based on; here we distinguish: legitimate and illegitimate forms of authority. Legitimate (from Latin legitimus - legal), based on legality and trust. The term “legitimate authority” was introduced by M. Weber[9]. A.I. Timofeev calls “legitimate and illegitimate forms of authority”[10]. The essence of legitimate authority is substantiated, especially by M. Weber, quite strongly. Legitimate authority arises under the conditions of an established system of legitimacy relations. Legitimacy, the basis of legality, gives authority the character of a power relationship in which the holder of power has a socially recognized right to command, and the subordinate has a socially recognized obligation to obey. In addition, it is believed that its peculiarity lies in the fact that the bearer of authority in certain circumstances has proven that he has outstanding abilities. At the same time, illegitimate forms are suggestion (from Latin suggestio - suggestion), imposition (from Latin imponere - to impose, inspire, make an impressive impression), fascination (impressing an imaginary) authority. Suggestion is the opposite of impression, which is mainly oriented towards an ideal. If thinking, in one form or another, is of primary importance in the formation of trust, then in illegitimate forms, emotional and affective factors play the main role[11]. Along with the above, there are legal authority[12] and illegal authority. Legal authority is authority supported by a system of formal laws and existing on their basis. Illegal authority is the authority of persons, communities (their institutions) who are and operate outside the law. These are authorities in underground political and religious organizations and the so-called criminal “authorities” - the “pillars” of the criminal world, the “authority” of thieves’ “laws”, etc.

The subjects (bearers) of authority are diverse. There are also different forms. According to the subject of functioning, they distinguish: personal authority; collective authority; the authority of a social institution; the authority of tradition or custom, etc. Personal authority is the authority of certain individuals: the authority of Ivanov, the authority of Petrov. Such authority is acquired, won by any individual primarily due to his outstanding knowledge, professional skill, skillful activity, physical perfection, high morality, etc. Collective authority is the authority won by a certain community of people: a production team, a scientific team institution, army collective, group of people, etc. The authority of a social institution is the authority acquired by one or another social institution: state, government, legislative body, rules of law, ministry, administration of a territorial authority, leadership of the armed forces, military headquarters , command, etc. The authority of tradition is the authority of historically established traditions in a particular society, its part, its cell, region, locality, team, family, and other traditions. Traditions are elements of social and collective heritage that are passed down from generation to generation and observed by people for a long time. Traditions are closely related to customs. Customs are an extra-legal, social-value norm that regulates people's behavior. The customs of a number of peoples, for example the peoples of the Caucasus, enjoy great authority.

The form of authority is also determined by the methods of adequacy of achieving authority. Depending on the methods of gaining authority, they differ: true authority (genuine) and false authority (pseudo-authority). True (authentic) authority is the authority of an individual, a social institution, a collective, which is won naturally, without any tricks, acquired by the actual advantages and merits of the subject. False authority is acquired by the subject of authority by misleading the object of authority or by erroneously assessing the qualities and values inherent in the subject of “authority” by the object of authority. Pseudo-authority, from an etymological point of view, means unreal, false authority; it is assigned to someone on a false basis.

The forms in which authority is embodied in reality and the scope of its action depend on the historical stages of development of society, specific social conditions, ideological ideas that determine the sources and criterion of value norms for establishing the authority of the subject.

Authority as a phenomenon affects society, and it inversely affects authority. Their interaction is carried out not only vertically, which mainly reflects the relationships of subordination of structural formations, as presented above, but also horizontally.

In a horizontal plan, subgroups of authorities are distinguished, differing in social reasons, in spatiotemporal factors, and in aspects of consideration.

The subgroup on social grounds includes a gradation of authorities: according to social orientation; social character; the nature of social activities; according to their hierarchy. In terms of social orientation, this influence (and, consequently, authority itself) can be: promoting social progress or inhibiting social progress - anti-progressive.

The social nature of authoritative relationships plays an important role. According to the social nature of authoritative relations, the predominance in their functioning in society of complementary non-violent foundations - respect, trust; power relations, democratic authority takes place. When the influence of power factors, the authority of force, prevails in it, authoritarian authority appears.

According to the nature of social activity reflected by the subject of authority, authority differs: leadership and paradigmatic (exemplary), i.e. acting as a model.

In society, in science, in a social group, several different authorities can function. People evaluate them according to their levels and degree of trust, highlighting those who are more worthy of respect and honor and those who are inferior to them in some respect. Their corresponding gradation is developed and a hierarchy is determined. According to the degree of trust and hierarchy, authorities differ: higher, middle and lower. It is established specifically by the object of authority within the field in which the phenomenon manifests itself.

Authorities, like all phenomena of reality, having arisen, function in space and at a certain time. Let us therefore single out a spatio-temporal subgroup of factors for dividing authorities.

Time flows from past to present. Based on the time of operation and existence, a number of types of authority are distinguished. There is an authority that existed in the past, but subsequently exhausted itself - this is the former (past) authority; the authority that exists in the present time for the object of authority is modern. In addition, according to the duration of existence in science and practice, in teams there are also authorities who exist stably, indisputably, constantly. We will call such authority permanent. These are, for example, the authorities of the great Archimedes and his discovery, Peter the Great as a statesman, Suvorov as a commander, etc. The authority of one or another of its bearers or subjects in modern conditions is also stable over time, although within the historical framework it is not so important a great period of time, like the above-mentioned authorities. It has more to do with consistency for a particular object of authority. Practice shows that there are also authorities who function inconsistently, but for a relatively long time - a long-lasting authority. As conditions change, in one situation or another, they may give way to others. There are also short-lived authorities who play a certain role for a short period of time, but quickly lose their significance - these are temporary authorities.

Society in its structure contains elements of various sizes, differing in their spatial parameters, primarily in the scale of the object of authority. The scale of the spread of authority can include two branches: territorial functioning and the size of the social object. Of no small importance is the territory in which authority operates. According to the territorial characteristics of the functioning of the object of authority, they are distinguished: individual, family, primary team, organization (institution, educational or scientific institution, military unit, association), region, republic, country, worldwide (world authority). According to the size of the social object, authorities are distinguished: universal, class, social group, collective, individual.

The next subgroup consists of authorities that differ in aspects of consideration. Authority is analyzed in various aspects, with attention drawn to one or another aspect of its content and essence. It is customary to distinguish aspects: epistemological, sociological, psychological, pedagogical, military, etc.

Let us pay attention to such a little-studied type of authority as military authority. Military authority is a type of social authority, a historically conditioned, generally recognized influence of the state (military coalitions of states), its armed forces and their constituent elements, as well as military personnel, military leaders on the basis of respect and trust established for them in society or its individual links, due to the inherent merits and qualities demonstrated in the field of military reality, contributing to the effective solution of the tasks of strengthening the country’s defense capability. This is also a type of generally recognized, consciously and voluntarily accepted position and influence of a military leader on his subordinates. “Military authority” includes “military authority” as an essential component. Military authority covers a somewhat narrower sphere than military authority. He emphasizes that it belongs only to warriors, military personnel of certain categories (and not, for example, to the armed forces as a whole). Military authority is an element of military authority in general.

These are the main points of the typology, the classification of authority as a multifaceted and rich in its manifestations phenomenon of social existence. It was important to present in unity and compare in schematic form the various manifestations of authority and draw their kind of “tree.” Covering the entire object of the “tree of authorities” with attention is intended to present the phenomenon of social life – “authority” as a whole. Knowledge of the general allows us to penetrate deeper into the essence of the phenomenon and, in turn, makes it possible to comprehend the individual - specific forms of authority - and the special - types, genera and species. Of course, there are no claims to the ultimate truth here. This is one approach that we hope is intended to stimulate research thought.

[1] See: Talent: Dictionary of the Russian language: In 4 volumes, 3rd ed., stereotypical. T. IV. M.: Russian language, 1988. P. 336; Glory. Right there. pp. 128–129; Genius. Right there. T. 1. M., 1985. P. 305.

[2] Bochenski, Joseph M. Freiheit, Glaube. Sozialphilosophische Studien. Philosophia Verlag. Munchen. Wien. 1988. S. 15.

[3] See: Dictionary of the Russian language. T. III. M.: Russian language, 1987. P. 723.

[4] Bochenski JM Freiheit, Glaube. Sozialpolitische Studien. S. 214.

[5] Weber M. Wirtschaft und Geselschaft In: Grundriss der Sozialökonomik. 2 Halband. Tubingen, 1925. S. 122–140; Weber M. Selected works. M.: Progress, 1990. P. 647.

[6] See: Stepanov A. A. Scientific authority: philosophical problems. Tomsk, 2000. P. 135.

[7] Authorität. Brockhaus Enzyclopadie im 24 Banden,19, völlig neu bearbeitete Auflage. 2 Bd, APU-BEC. Brockhaus, Mannheim, 1987, pp. 416–418.

[8] Authority. Sociological Encyclopedic Dictionary / Ed. G. V. Osipov. M., 2000. P. 5.

[9] Weber M. Wirtschaft und Geselschaft... S. 122–140.

[10] See: Timofeev A.I. On the spiritual authority of power in Russian philosophy at the turn of the century // Veche: Almanac of Russian philosophy and culture. Vol. 7. 1996. P. 78.

[11] See: Authority in politics. Foreign political science. Dictionary-reference book. M., 1998. P. 10.

[12] See: Authority. Sociological Encyclopedic Dictionary / Ed. G. V. Osipov. M., 2000. P. 5.

Authority - what is it?

What is the meaning of the word authority? The term is derived from the Latin word autoritas, which means “power, influence.” What is authority? Let's give two definitions:

this is the high status of an individual or group;
This is the generally recognized informal influence of an individual, group, or organization on society.

The formation of public respect occurs in the process of socio-psychological interaction, based on society’s recognition of the achievements, merits, experience, and knowledge of an individual (organization, group). An authoritative person can be a person, a group, an object, an idea, a value system, a social institution, an organization, or a concept. What does authority mean? To recognize someone's authority means to recognize the superiority of the subject, his moral, spiritual strength, competence, dignity.

What is the definition of authority in psychology? Authority is an instrument of power in psychology, a means of maintaining discipline. An authoritative person is listened to and obeyed, they obey him unquestioningly (unquestioned authority). Sometimes it reaches the point of absurdity, submission becomes blind, turns into worship. This is how a cult of personality, a sect, is born.

Who is an authoritative person

Who is an authoritative person? This is the one whose opinions and actions influence people. Some people believe that an authority figure is someone whom others fear. Being afraid means being respected. Guided by this attitude, parents beat and punish their children, and the boss deprives his subordinates of bonuses and salaries, and the government introduces harsh laws that limit freedom and individual rights. Is it correct? No, this is wrong, this is a false authority.

True respect is based on democracy, trust, respect. An authoritative person becomes an example, a role model, a transmitter of ideas and values, norms of behavior that society shares with him. An authoritative person guides others without coercion, motivates, stimulates, and interests. If a society submits to someone or something due to blackmail, bribery, pressure and coercion, but at the same time constantly experiences internal protest and a craving for sabotage, then this cannot be called authority. Only the one who is obeyed voluntarily is a truly authoritative person.

Examples

In production and in business relations, public recognition does not always coincide with official social status. For example, the director of an enterprise or the class leader may not be an authority. At the same time, any ordinary employee can earn universal recognition. And in the classroom, any student can become an authority for a certain category of children.

You can name authoritative publications, channels, organizations, stores, enterprises. For example, Channel One in Russia is considered an authoritative media outlet, but not everyone agrees with this. This is the specificity of authority. It practically never happens that absolutely all people perceive one subject as their leader. This is a subjective concept.

An example of the use of trust and subjectivity of the phenomenon: advertising with celebrities (politicians, musicians, actors). “I trust this bank” or “I recommend this to you,” says an authoritative representative of the society. And the audience thinks: “Yeah, since he’s even investing his money there, then I’ll invest it too.” And those who have already invested and lost their money think: “Again, you are ready to advertise anything for money, but you yourself will never contact this company.” For the second category, this subject is no longer a significant person. And there is a third category, who are initially indifferent to this or all other media personalities.

For teenagers, the authority role is not enough.

Although in a situation that is significant for the team as a whole, and above all in educational conditions. activities, the teacher, as a rule, is recognized as having the right to accept responsibility. solutions. In a situation of personal interest, and especially in conditions of extracurricular activities, such trust is advanced to a lesser extent than it happened in junior high. school age.

This phenomenon can be regarded as a specification of the Authority of the role of the teacher. If the teacher turns out to be authoritative in this area, then we can state the presence of genuine Authority of his personality.

In high school age (early adolescence), a further increase in personal selectivity is manifested due to a decrease in role orientation. Some teachers turn out to be authoritative, and some are not, not so much because they are teachers, but because of the authority or lack of authority of their personality.

Attitude towards the teacher in Art. schoolchildren are quite similar to the attitude towards the teacher on the part of students (a teacher who is highly competent in his subject, as a rule, enjoys respect among them). The ability to use teacher power is also valued, but humanity, the ability to understand and support, and responsiveness are valued above all.

Both high school students and young students enjoy authority among highly qualified teachers who, in their relationships with students, were able to become senior teachers. comrades to boys and girls.

It depends on how authoritative specific teachers and the entire pedagogy are in the eyes of students. team, the success of creating an educational atmosphere in the classroom depends. institutions, the region, in turn, contributes to the formation and strengthening of the Authority of teachers. Lit.: Ears of a certain K.D., Three elements of the school, Izbr. ped. cit., vol. 1, Mi974; Dobrolyubov N. A., On the importance of authority in education, Izbr. ped. soch., M., 1986; Makarenko A.S., On parental authority, Ped. soch., vol. 4, M., 1984; Kon I. S., Psychology of high school students, M., 1982; Psychology of the developing personality, ed. A. V. Tetrovsky, M., 1987; Kondratiev M. Yu., Components of authority, M., 1988. M. Yu. Kondratiev, L. A. Levshin.

Burden of Heroism

Heroism is inherent in each of us, but not that reckless cinematic heroism, which is with a bare heel on a saber, and the other - that with an open heart and a sober mind in the heat of complete uncertainty. It’s easy to be a hero, committing recklessness approved by society, but try to follow the call of your soul contrary to the expectations of your loved ones and even at the risk of losing their love and understanding. This is where real heroism lies!

It’s difficult, but deep down, every person is drawn to exactly this - to the free expression of one’s own personality, contrary to all foundations, prohibitions and well-known paths. We are all invariably drawn to places where on unknown paths there are traces of unseen animals.

It’s not for nothing that we all like books and films about heroic adventures. Each of us has a drive to reach the full potential of our personality, and it finds expression in our admiration for the heroism of others. A hero is someone who dares.

And we all want to follow his example.

The hero bets on himself, and not on whether society will accept him. He does not need the love of others and therefore can afford to have an independent opinion that is inconvenient for others. He can afford to be strong because he is not afraid of losing the cozy company of the weak. Such heroism costs him dearly, but the song of his own soul is more important to him.

Take, for example, independence of judgment. Valuable quality? Definitely! But what does it entail? What is the price of independent judgment? To express an independent opinion about life or any particular area of it is the risk of losing agreement with all those who cannot afford independent judgment. Having your own opinion is the first step to loneliness.

Determination? Leadership ability? Force? The most valuable qualities that, ultimately, always find recognition in society. But before this very “final score” is summed up, they all lead the individual through the abyss of loneliness and the cemetery of dead heroes into a space of complete uncertainty.

It's impossible to be a hero while remaining like everyone else... and this brings us to a rather wild question. Every personality is unique by definition, then why are there so many equally faceless people around? What price do we pay for our social well-being and the psychological comfort that life in a society of averagely similar people brings with it?

Living in a society on a well-trodden track is a guaranteed way to live long and tolerantly. The life of a hero is a way to live as long as necessary, but happily.

Which path do you choose? This is not about the long term or one heroic act of a lifetime, but about all those small choices that happen every minute in our lives. What do you choose over and over again: the risk of being yourself or calm peace in general facelessness? Whose life do you choose to live - yours or someone else's? Whose commandments do you follow—your own or someone else’s? Whose rules are you playing by? Which of the beaten paths are you following?

Everyone wants to be independent, strong and decisive. Moreover, heroism is not just a desire, it is an innate need of every person. A hero is not a rare chosen one of fate. We are all heroes, we are all chosen. Each of us has all the necessary abilities, attributes and enough strength to walk the path of a heroic strong personality. And only we choose who we want to be in this life. The only question is whether we are ready to pay the price that freedom will require.

What it is

Social psychology has its own explanation of the term authority, what it is and how to obtain such status. In everyday understanding, this word means a person or organization that has a great influence on society. Unlike tyranny, recognition is obtained through non-violent means. It is given for intellectual achievements or moral qualities.

Definition in psychology

In social psychology, the term authority is explained a little differently; this concept affects the social sphere. It means a special form of influence on a group of people.

The main method of management is belief. People voluntarily recognize the power of an authority and agree to follow him. Not every individual knows how to use authority. Such influence is formed due to special personal qualities and abilities to organize general activities.

The concept of personal authority

This term refers to special personal development that reaches a high level. Such a person commands respect from many people. Often this type of power is based on charisma, i.e. unconscious attraction.

A person with personal authority has special energy, passion, and the ability to speak emotionally and inspiringly. He has good looks, good rhetorical skills, and is confident.

Personal authority is a synthesis of innate and acquired qualities. Every leader who wants to become successful should acquire a similar form of influence.

Instrument of power

Many people strive to take a leadership position, but it is not easy to do. It is possible to obtain the position of chief by force, but this will not give complete satisfaction from having power.

Authority in society means a lot and provides great opportunities.

The peculiarity of authority is that people themselves choose whom to follow and whom to believe. They do not need to be forced or forced. An individual with this form of influence knows how to persuade, and there is no doubt about the correctness of his decisions.

In social psychology, it is believed that authority is based on trust, respect, and democracy. This is what is useful for recognizing yourself as a leader. All other methods will not give long-term results.

In pedagogy, authority is also important, since the obedience of students depends on it. Modern children will not respect a teacher just because of the age difference. Therefore, an adult will have to find ways to win the favor of schoolchildren.

How to use influence in society

Leadership - what is it, definition

The ability to lead people and be persuasive is useful not only at work. This is necessary for parents, communication in any social group and in many areas of activity.

With a high level of influence, you will not have to become dependent on other people

Not everyone can tell who an authoritative person is. He cannot be called self-confident or arrogant, but there is something about him that attracts and inspires respect. Everyone decides for himself what definition to give to his personality.

If an individual wants to influence people, then he must start with his appearance. An upright posture, a smile and a lack of worry demonstrate his open attitude.

In order to gain recognition from other people, you will have to perform many significant actions. After achieving a goal, an individual receives recognition, attention and respect, this is pleasant and provides certain benefits.

People around you don’t always know who the authority is. This is a person who exudes a special energy, it makes you imbued with other people’s beliefs. Some world leaders were credited with possessing sacred knowledge that endowed them with magical charm.

If there is authority, an individual can always count on moral and material support from other people. This may mean that he will not have to work hard to receive any benefits; all he needs to do is ask.

Life is easier with a high level of influence

Over time, each person develops his own idea of authority, what it means and how to achieve it. Not everyone strives to obtain such an ability, but it can make life much easier.

In order to better understand a particular term, you need to turn to scientific sources. Authority is a definition that is considered within the framework of social psychology. It is in this industry that you can find ways to influence people.

Authority also has a definition, but it’s an everyday one. This is what they call a person who is respected in the family. This is not necessarily a mother or father, maybe a grandmother or grandfather.

Sometimes there may be a problem with how to correctly write authority or authority; the second option is correct. This personality quality allows you to achieve success not only at work, but also in your personal life.

The authority of the leader

Listed in Fig. 1 elements form the authority of the leader. It has a significant impact on the development and implementation of SD. In management psychology, there are several types of authority: the authority of distance, the authority of kindness, the authority of compensation, the authority of reasoning, the authority of pedantry, the authority of conceit and the authority of suppression (Fig. 2). Each variety includes additional elements that, in the opinion of the manager, should increase his influence on the staff. Let's briefly look at these varieties.

Rice. 2 Types of authority

The authority of distance is formed by creating artificial barriers in contacts and the transfer of information between the leader and the executors of his decisions. The effect of the manager's unavailability stimulates the subordinate to take proactive decisions.

The authority of kindness is formed as a result of an exaggerated display of sensitivity, pity and kindness towards subordinates. The role of a comforter unites subordinates in carrying out the decisions of the leader. However, the deadlines for completing work may be delayed for any valid reason.

Compensation authority is created by using strong incentives (compensations) to complete a task. In this case, the subordinate is not interested in the result, but in compensation. For very boring and heavy work, this variety brings good results. The mechanism of compensation authority is reminiscent of the work of a trainer with animals in a circus. For certain movements, animals receive tasty pieces of food.

The authority of advocacy is formed due to the manager’s broad approach to the subject of SD. The variety of ideas creates in the subordinate an opinion about the high qualifications of the manager and stimulates better performance of the assigned task. However, very lengthy discussions by the manager can significantly reduce the interest of subordinates in completing the task.

The authority of pedantry is created by detailed preliminary study by the manager of all elements of the task and issuing them to subordinates. Strict regulation of tasks increases the likelihood of obtaining the specified quality of products in the allotted time. The professionalism of the manager plays a decisive role. However, the role of the performer is reduced to simple routine work without creative elements. Extremes of regulation are always poorly perceived by subordinates, which leads to staff turnover and formalism.

The authority of swagger is formed by artificially inflating the authority of the leader in the eyes of subordinates. “Inflated” authority can be created by superiors, colleagues of the manager, or the manager himself. This type, to a certain extent, helps the leader to effectively influence subordinates both himself and through other people. Let us remember how in Tsarist Russia the caps of landowners, gendarmes and other powerful people were sent to pacify the rioters. However, this can lead to a high ego of the manager and a gradual loss of desire for professional development. The authority of suppression is organized as a result of the predominance of the priorities of power over the priorities of the company’s main personnel, clients and counterparties. This type helps the manager quickly implement decisions both horizontally and vertically. A typical example of the use of the authority of suppression is the US military pressure over a number of years on Iraq and in the fall of 1999 on Yugoslavia. The effectiveness of a given authority is determined by the set of goals pursued. However, the unprofessional creation of such authority can lead to weak threats and punishments, as well as revolts among staff.

The leader and his powers

Alexey Ulanovsky: Authority is translated into Russian as powers, an authoritative person, a figure.
Ronald Heifetz defines authority as the conferred power to perform some service or service. Several key elements are emphasized here: authority is something given that can be taken back, just as it was given. Authority is the same thing as, for example, gravity: it is useless to deny. As soon as we find ourselves in a group, inequality arises: some differences, distribution of resources - money, time, the right to speak first. There is always competition for who speaks the most. Authority gives definition and understanding of one’s place in the group. As soon as we take authority away from the group or someone begins to doubt authority, the number of fights and conflicts increases sharply. This is how revolutions arise.

When exploring the topic of authority, we study the behavior of animals in a group. How do you know who has more authority in the pack? A very simple sign: this is the individual that everyone focuses on. We see a similar phenomenon in children. Already in a group of four-year-olds, authority is distributed unevenly: someone initiates games, acts as a mediator of conflicts, and speaks on behalf of the entire group. And the rest are inclined to obey, imitate and - what is important - give gifts.

How do you recognize a formal leader - a manager who is officially authorized to fulfill his role? There are four signs:

Veto the admission of a candidate.
Give instructions to subordinates.
Reward subordinates
Initiate the removal of subordinates from their positions.

If even one of these components is missing, the manager is not fully authorized by his supervisor. But that is not all. In addition to the formal one, there is personal empowerment. It is important to understand that personal authority is not limited to personality traits, but is part of larger complex dynamics in the group and in group processes.

How to gain authority

How to gain authority in a team:

identify an informal leader, try to make a positive impression on him and other people;
be tactful, demonstrate professionalism and the best human qualities;
show interest in other people, demonstrate your dignity through deeds;
Communicate as much as possible in an informal setting.

Don't try to play and please, be yourself. This is the only way you can not only earn authority, but also maintain it. By pretending, sooner or later you will get tired and want to be yourself, but it is not a fact that others will be happy about it. It may deprive you of recognition.

To earn personal authority, you need to work on the elements on which it depends:

social position and status (you must be an example of a successful life);
a strong character;
self-demandingness and exactingness;
self-discipline;
self-confidence;
rich professional and life experience (erudition, developed horizons, large stock of knowledge and skills);
uniqueness and individuality.

An authoritative person must have the following qualities:

sincerity,
honesty,
communication skills
openness,
positive,
naturalness,
responsiveness,
hard work.

How to gain authority among people (more details):

Assess the usefulness of your personal and professional qualities to other people. Conduct a written reflection. Assess how well you have developed the qualities necessary to win recognition.
Determine what you are missing. Make a plan to develop these qualities. Think about what tools you have, what resources you lack, and where you can get them.
Learn to communicate with people, develop communication skills. This is necessary both for self-presentation, manifestation of one’s qualities, and for building relationships.
Become a valuable member of society. Think about what socially significant business or activity you can do. Remember that you must be guided by the interests of the group and put your desires into the background. The more people need you, the higher your importance.

Learn to respect and appreciate other people, listen to them, and be forgiving. Do not shift your duties and responsibilities onto someone else's shoulders. Be active and cheerful, then you will definitely achieve authority in your circles.

How to raise your authority

If a person has earned recognition and trust, then he does not need to constantly prove his strength and confirm his importance. However, this does not mean that he can relax. Now we need to focus our energy on maintaining trust. You cannot abuse it, abandon those qualities and values for which people recognized the individual as a leader. Otherwise, a person will lose trust, he will have to think about how to increase his authority.

Is it possible to regain trust? Yes, but it's very difficult. How to increase your authority? Be patient and calm. Pay attention to compromise as a method of resolving disagreements and improving relationships with people, and start building a good reputation. Identify the single root cause of loss of respect. Think about what you should do to fix this.

Will combined with flexibility

Gennady Samoilenko, founder of Online Personal:

Any leader needs four qualities to successfully manage a team and business processes: willpower, charisma, communication skills and intuition.

Will is what helps to cope with current affairs if there is a lack of motivation. Willpower is needed both for career success and for authority in a team. A weak-willed leader will never be authoritative.

At the same time, it is important to combine will with flexibility and spontaneity. You can be strong-willed, but flexible when making decisions, tolerant, loyal with subordinates and boss

There are people who are flexible, but not strong-willed. This is when you accept the points of view and views of other people, but at the same time you cannot do anything yourself. Will is always a sign of adulthood.

Flexibility can be learned. It is enough to find the equipment and launch the trigger mechanism.

Leadership styles

Jack Wood: It is important for a leader to be able to control his emotions. You need to be able not to demonstrate self-doubt and anxiety, but to show calmness and confidence. Quiet leadership is often more effective than loud leadership, but it all depends on the situation. Loud leadership sometimes helps to move forward.

Alexey Ulanovsky: This is a matter of expanding the leader’s arsenal: in a crisis you can be a noisy leader, but it is very important to also be able to ask questions and listen to answers, and show empathy. We can be flexible and switch between different leadership styles.