power of the uniform

• if the authority is wearing a professional/respected uniform, the more likely they are to obey
• The role of the experimenter was taken over by an 'ordinary member of the public' (a confederate) in everyday clothes rather than a lab coat. The obedience level dropped to 20%.
• Bushman (1988) conducted a study where a female researcher stopped people in the street and told them to give change to a male researcher for an expired parking meter
• 1. Police-style Uniform → Obedience = 72%
• 1. 2. Business Executive → Obedience 48%
• 3. Beggar Obedience = 52%

  =
• • When interviewed afterwards, pts said they obeyed the woman in

  uniform because she appeared to have authority