Authority, Max Weber, bureaucratic theory, legal-rational authority, traditional authority, charismatic authority, social control, organizational theory, Stanford prison experiment, Milgram experiment, civil authority, political authority, religious author

Authority refers to the legitimate power individuals or groups hold to make decisions and enforce rules. Max Weber identified three types: bureaucratic authority, based on rules and procedures; traditional authority, rooted in established customs; and charismatic authority, derived from personal qualities. Social control involves mechanisms that regulate behavior. Key experiments like the Stanford prison and Milgram studies explore obedience to authority. Various forms of authority include civil, political, and religious. Governance concerns how authority is exercised in society. The Flat Earth Society illustrates how unconventional beliefs can challenge mainstream authority and beliefs, highlighting the complexity of power dynamics and compliance.