Which base of power is grounded in specialized knowledge or skills?

• A. Coercive power
• B. Legitimate power
• C. Expert power
• D. Referent power

Answer: (C)

Power that comes from specialized knowledge or skills stems from people seeing you as the go-to expert for solving complex problems. This expert power arises when your demonstrated competence earns others’ trust and reliance on your judgments, insights, and technical guidance. In criminal justice practice, that might be a detective who has mastered a particular investigation technique, a crime analyst with advanced data methods, or a corrections professional with unique behavioral assessment skills. Others defer to them not because of formal rank or the ability to punish, but because they’ve proven they know what works.

This is distinct from coercive power, which relies on the ability to punish; legitimate power, which comes from holding a formal role or title; and referent power, which is based on admiration or personal charisma. Expert power is about the credibility gained through knowledge and skill, and it often grows as the person’s track record of accurate, effective problem-solving becomes apparent.