Final answer:
A. Leadership is the social and informal sources of influence used to inspire action in others, and it's evident in various social contexts, from family and peer networks to social media and collective movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social and informal sources of influence that individuals use to inspire action taken by others is A. leadership.
Leadership involves guiding and inspiring others towards a common goal.
It's not just about holding a formal position; rather, leadership can be exhibited by anyone in a group who has the ability to influence and mobilize action amongst their peers.
Social norms and the exertion of influence through informal networks are essential to understanding how leadership works outside of formal settings.
For example, in social movements, a dramatic event may spur collective behavior, followed by mobilization for action where leaders emerge to direct a crowd to action.
This showcases how leadership can originate organically within a community or social network.
Similarly, social media has transformed the landscape of leadership by allowing individuals to quickly share information, raise awareness, and even emerge as leaders through their online presence, without the need for traditional hierarchical structures.
In communities without formal leadership structures, authority may instead rely on persuasive power and the ability to build group consensus.
Overall, leadership as a social influence is richly embedded in the fabric of social interactions, from family and friends to social media networks and collective movements.