What is power, and why do people obey those in authority?
The concepts of power and authority, the difference between power and authority, and the three types of authority: traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
A focused answer on power and authority for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the difference between power and authority, coercion versus consent, and Weber's three types of authority - traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers power and authority: who can make others do things, and why people obey. You need to define power and authority, explain the difference between them (power can rest on force, authority on consent), and describe the three types of authority that sociologists use: traditional, charismatic and legal rational. This links closely to social control and to how stratified societies are held together.
Power and authority
Force versus consent
The three types of authority
Try this
Q1. What is the difference between power and authority? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Power is the ability to make others do what you want even against their will, while authority is power that is seen as legitimate or rightful, so people obey willingly rather than because they are forced.
Q2. Explain what is meant by legal rational authority, with an example. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Legal rational authority is based on rules, laws and official positions rather than the individual, so people obey the office not the person, for example obeying a police officer or a prime minister because of the position they hold.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC (Component 2)2 marksExplain the difference between power and authority.Show worked answer →
A short knowledge question (AO1). Reward a clear contrast.
Power. Power is the ability to make others do what you want, even against their will.
Authority. Authority is power that is seen as legitimate or rightful, so people obey willingly.
Top marks. A clear definition of each, showing authority is power people accept as legitimate.
WJEC (Component 2)6 marksDescribe the three types of authority.Show worked answer →
A describe question (AO1). Reward all three types, each with an example.
Traditional authority. Based on long-standing custom, such as a king or queen who rules because that is how it has always been.
Charismatic authority. Based on the personal qualities of a leader who inspires followers, such as a powerful political or religious figure.
Legal rational authority. Based on rules, laws and official positions, such as a prime minister or a police officer.
Top band. All three types, each clearly described with an example.
Related dot points
- The concept of social stratification, the main systems of stratification including the class system, and how social class is defined and measured in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social stratification for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the concept of stratification, systems such as the class system, slavery, caste and feudalism, and how social class is defined and measured.
- The link between social class and life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social class and life chances for WJEC GCSE Sociology: how class shapes life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty.
- The concept of social mobility, the difference between open and closed systems and between upward and downward mobility, and the factors that help or hinder movement between classes.
A focused answer on social mobility for WJEC GCSE Sociology: open and closed systems, upward and downward mobility, intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and the factors that help or hinder it.
- Social control through formal agencies such as the police, courts and law, and informal agencies such as the family, peer group and media, working through positive and negative sanctions to maintain social order.
A focused answer on social control for WJEC GCSE Sociology: formal control through the police, courts and law, informal control through the family, peers and media, and how sanctions maintain social order.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Sociology (Wales) specification (C200QS) — WJEC (2017)