Final answer:
Celebrity athletes and entertainers wield referent power, a form of influence based on personal qualities such as charm and inspiration. They do not typically possess legitimate, reward, or coercive power as these are related to formal authority within societal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Celebrity athletes and entertainers primarily wield what is known as referent power. This form of power emanates from the personal admiration, affection, and respect that they command from the public. This power is rooted in their ability to charm, inspire, and sometimes influence public opinion and trends, but it does not stem from the ability to reward, punish, or enforce authority in the legal sense.
Referent power belongs to the wider spectrum of authority as defined by sociologist Max Weber. He identified various forms of authority, such as traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal authority. Celebrities often fall under charismatic authority due to their exceptional personal qualities that endear them to the public and allow them to influence societal norms and behaviors without the need for formal power structures.
While athletes and entertainers don't typically hold legitimate power (power based on formal positions within legal or organizational structures), reward power (based on the ability to provide something of value), or coercive power (based on the capability to punish or restrict), they do play a significant role in shaping consumer behavior and public opinions. Their impact can be seen through their endorsement deals, public statements, and the causes they support.