Legitimacy of Authority

• The degree to which individuals are seen as justified in having power over others. We are socialised from a young age to accept power and status of others who are higher in the hierarchy, this keeps society stable.
• However, problems arise when the authority figures become destructive.
• LOA - A03

  • Milgram is supporting evidence. The experimenter wore a white labcoat which emphasised his power and status.
  • Rundown office situational - location - A less presitigous setting reduced the legitimacy of authority
• A03

  • Strength as it has real life application and can explain how obedience leads to real life war crimes such as My Lai massacre. The soldier responsible said he was just following orders
  • Lots of civilians were murdered and the women were gang raped
  • These inhumane actions have been said to be due to the fact that the soldier viewed the authority figure with a high status
• A03

  • Support from Hofling et al
  • 95% obeyed
• Unable to explain instances of disobedience in a society where the legitimacy of authority hierarchy is clear and accepted. Again, Milgram had participants that disobeyed in his study despite recognising the experimenter as his authority figure.