Social Order - Power and Authority

Power and Authority

An exception to the idea of values and norms as social order-keepers is deviant behavior. Not everyone in a society abides by a set of personal values or the group's norms all the time. For this reason it generally deemed necessary for a society to have authority. The adverse opinion holds that the need for authority stems from lack of Social justice. It is recognized that effective social justice and the need for authoritative Social control are inversely related. (refs. needed)

In societies, those who hold positions of power and authority are among the upper class. Norms differ for each class because the members of each class were raised differently and hold different sets of values. Tension can form, therefore, between the upper class and lower class when laws and rules are put in place that do not conform to the values of both classes.

Read more about this topic:  Social Order

Famous quotes containing the words power and, power and/or authority:

    This was Pharaoh, direct descendent of our deity Amon, god of the sun, who rules the heavens as Pharaoh rules the earth. Again, he brought treasure, gold, and precious jewels taken from our enemies. For to Pharaoh riches were power and power was to be desired. And also again he brought many captives. For is it not by slaves that one becomes even richer and then has even more power?
    William Faulkner (1897–1962)

    In this our talking America, we are ruined by our good nature and listening on all sides. This compliance takes away the power of being greatly useful.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    The faith that stands on authority is not faith.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)