Obedience

• what is obedience?

  • when someone acts in response to a direct order from an authority figure. however, they may disagree w/that order privately.
• how is obedience different from compliance?

  • compliance/conformity = fitting in, obedience = following orders.
• what are the negative effects of obedience?

  • corruption/extreme control, creates hierarchies and power imbalances.
  • loss of identity/critical thinking skills.
  • people commit crimes due to following orders, e.g. the Holocaust.
  • wars/civil unrest.
• real-life examples of obedience?

  • the holocaust- german soldiers were instructed to kill/torment/ridicule innocent jews.
  • vietnam- innocent women and children were raped and murdered, soldiers under orders.
  • bosnian war- under orders, soldiers set up 'rape camps'.
• famous court case related to obedience?

  • adolph eichmann (nazi war criminal).

  - man who masterminded organisation of Holocaust.

  - was charged w/crimes against humanity.

  - defence was 'I was following orders from a higher authority'. was sentenced to death.
• research into obedience?

  • psychologists want to study why 'normal' people can commit such horrifc crimes when ordered to do so.
  • e.g. milgram (1963)