obedience

• what is obedience?


  Obedience is a direct form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order.

  Although this approach is less common than conformity pressure, it is far from rare.
• are obedience and conformity similar?


  According to Milgram (1992) conformity under obedience are similar in that both involve the abdication (give up or leave behind) of individual judgement in the face of some external pressure.
• are there any differences between conformity and obedience


  there are important differences between them:

  1 conformity can result from imagined pressure, there is no explicit requirement to act in a certain way.

  In obedience we are explicitly ordered or instructed to do something.

  2 those who influence us when we conform our our peers(or equals) on peoples behaviour become more alike because they are affected by example.

  In obedience, there’s a difference in status from the outset on obedience is affected by direction, with somebody in higher authority influencing behaviour.
• evaluation – obedience to authority has both a positive and negative side


  On the positive side, people obey laws of society, authority figures and other orders or instructions that seems sensible and reasonable.
• every day examples of obedience


  1 business executives issue many orders to their subordinates1 business executives issue many orders to their subordinates

  2 military officers should commands they expect to be followed at once

  3 parents, police officers, to name just a few, seek to influence others in this manner

  Obedience in this context is essential to the smooth running of society and if people didn’t obey chaos and disorder would quickly develop
• What can be a negative consequence of obedience?


  Obedience can be destructive and result in terrible crimes.
• What are historical examples of obedience leading to violence?

  • Nazis ordered the torture and killing of over 10 million Jews during WWII.
  • The My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War.
• What was the outcome of the orders given by high-ranking army officers during the historical events mentioned?


  They resulted in mass slaughter.
• Why is it not surprising that obedience to authority can lead to destructive actions?


  Because obedience to commands from sources of authority is a common behavior.
• What is surprising about obedience in relation to power dynamics?


  Even persons lacking in power can induce high levels of submission from others.
• Who conducted the famous experiments on obedience in 1963?


  Stanley Milgram
• What is the significance of Stanley Milgram's experiments?


  They provide clear evidence of obedience to authority
• What are the key characteristics of Milgram's obedience experiments?


  • Series of famous and controversial experiments
  • Focused on obedience to authority figures
  • Conducted in 1963
  • Reported dramatic evidence of obedience
• How did Milgram obtain subjects for his study?


  He advertised in local newspapers.
• What was the age range of the subjects in Milgram's study?


  20-50 years old.
• What was the purpose of the Milgram study?


  To study the effects of punishment on learning.
• Where did the Milgram study take place?


  In a laboratory at Yale University.
• What role did the subjects serve in the Milgram study?


  They served as "teachers".
• What were the roles and tasks assigned in the Milgram study?


  • Teachers: Delivered electric shocks for errors.
  • Learner: An accomplice who made errors.
  • Experimenter: An authority figure in a lab coat.
• What was the task the teacher had to perform in the Milgram study?


  The teacher had to read out a list of words.
• How did the learner indicate his answers in the Milgram study?


  By pressing the appropriate lever.
• Why was the learner strapped into a chair during the Milgram study?


  To prevent excessive movements when shocked.
• How many switches were used to deliver electric shocks in the Milgram study?


  30 switches.
• What instruction was given to the subjects regarding the electric shocks?


  To move to the next higher switch each time the learner made an error.
• What was the nature of the errors made by the learner in the Milgram study?


  The learner made many errors following pre-arranged instructions.
• Did the learner actually receive electric shocks during the Milgram study?


  No, the learner never received any shocks.
• What was the only real shock delivered during the Milgram experiment?


  A 45-volt shock to the teacher.
• Why was the teacher given a 45-volt shock in the Milgram study?


  To convince him that the shocks were real.
• What was the role of the experimenter in the Milgram study?


  The experimenter acted as an authority figure to reinforce compliance.
• findings


  68% showed that obedience, proceeding through the entire series to the final 450 V level

  this was despite the shock generator being labelled “danger: severe shock” at 420 volts and XXX at 450.

  All participants went to 300 V with only five(12.5%) stopping there.
• situational variables: conditions affecting obedience to authority as investigated by Milgram


  Miligram was as surprise by the results as anyone however Milgram’s original “baseline study” established a method he could repeat , vary and use to place a numerical value on the rate of obedience
• why was there such a high level of obedience?

  In further experiments, Milgram identified several factors (situational variables) that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by participants.

  They are all related to the external circumstances rather than the personality of the people involved
• what did Milgran find?

  He found that under certain situational influences any one of us might obey orders that went against our conscience.

  Milgram find that similar results that could be obtained even under conditions that might be expected to reduce such obedience.
• what are these situational variables?


  These include:

  -Location

  -Proximity

  -Uniform
• what is location


  Location is the place where an order is issued
• How would this influence obedience?


  The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location.

  It conveys the force of legitimate authority
• what did the participants say in the original study?


  Participants said that they had to continue giving shocks because the experiment was being carried out at Yale, a very prestigious and highly respected American university.
• what was the effect on obedience


  As the location had high status, obedience was high – 65%, the experimenter conveyed more legitimate authority
• what did Milgram do?


  Milgram by repeating the experiment in a run – down office building a downtown setting

  low status location
• what was the obedience rate?


  In the setting, the obedience rate was reduced to 47.5%(for those continuing up to 450 V)– dropped by 17.5%. This was because in such a situation the experimenter conveys lower legitimate authority.