Final answer:
The statement is false. In high power distance cultures, authority figures use various forms of influence including coercion and formal authority, not solely persuasion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that persuasion is the most common form of influence in high power distance cultures is false. In high power distance cultures, authority figures have significant influence over the behaviors of individuals.
This influence may come through various forms, including conformity, compliance, obedience, and the capacity to exert coercive power.
Furthermore, in centralized societies like chiefdoms and states, the formal hereditary roles of leaders and their ability to enforce commands illustrate how power can be imposed, rather than being based solely on persuasion.
On the contrary, in acephalous societies where there are no formal leadership positions, leaders may rely more on persuasive power, as they lack the formal mechanisms to enforce their will.