Culture

• Hofstede's dimensions identified


  Individualism-collectivism and power distance index (PDI)
• Individualism-Collectivism


  Individualistic cultures value personal autonomy and self-reliance. Collectivist cultures value loyalty to the group, interdependence, and cooperation in pursuit of group goals.
• Obedience in Individualist vs. Collectivist cultures

  Individualist cultures (e.g. USA, Europe) have less obedience due to self-determination and independence. Collectivist cultures (e.g. China, Brazil) have a stronger sense of obligation and duty, leading to more obedience.
• Power Distance Index (PDI)

  PDI measures how accepting people are of hierarchical order and inequality in society. High PDI cultures have people who are told what to do and are highly obedient, while low PDI cultures are more likely to show resistance or dissent.
• Correlation between cultural dimensions and obedience

  • Kilham & Mann (1974) found low levels of obedience in Australia, which had a very low Power Distance Index (PDI) of 36%
  • Dolikski (2017) found high obedience levels of 90% in Poland, which had a PDI of 68%
  • This suggests Hofstede's PDI is a useful measure for predicting obedience levels
• Cultures have similar obedience levels

  • Blass (2012) calculated an average obedience rate of 66% across 8 non-US Milgram replications, compared to 61% in the US
  • This suggests obedience is a universal social behavior, and culture does not have much effect on obedience levels