Final answer:
Referent power is the ability to influence others through one's charisma and personal appeal, known as charismatic authority, and it does not depend on formal authority or enforcement mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Referent power is the ability to influence based on personal charisma and personality. This type of authority is known as charismatic authority, which is power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities. German sociologist Max Weber characterized charismatic authority as power exercised through personal attributes like skilled oratory, extraordinary abilities, or social charm, which is persuasive in nature. This power is about persuading and convincing others rather than forcing them to comply, and it does not rely on any formal means of enforcement like coercive power or established laws that underpin rational-legal authority.
Moreover, persuasive power, a similar concept, denotes the ability to influence others without any formal enforcement mechanisms. It's based on an individual's ability to build consensus and convince others, drawing upon their respect and admiration rather than any official capacity or the use of rewards or punishments to elicit cooperation. Therefore, the answer to the student's question is 'e. Referent'.