Obedience and Authority in Social Influence

Obedience

A form of social influence where a person follows a direct order from somebody in a position of power/authority.

Power

An individual's ability to exert control or influence over others' thoughts, feelings or behaviours.

Reward power

The ability to provide a desired response, such as allowing students to leave early.

Coercive power

The ability to provide an unpleasant response, such as detaining students.

Legitimate power

Power given by a higher authority, often due to role or position, such as a police officer or coach.

Expert power

Power due to skills and depth of knowledge, such as that of a doctor or motor mechanic.

Information power

Power due to having access to and control over information that others need, such as price information during negotiations.

Referent power

Power derived from others' desire to relate to the person, such as an admired sports star.

Democratic leadership

A leadership style where leaders offer guidance and allow input from group members while retaining final decision-making authority.

Authoritarian leadership

A leadership style where leaders provide clear expectations and make decisions independently without team input.

Laissez-faire leadership

A leadership style where leaders offer little or no guidance and leave decisions up to group members.

Milgram Study (1963)

A study investigating how far people will obey an authority figure, involving a 'teacher' administering electric shocks to a 'learner'.

Ecological validity

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalized to real-world settings.

Hofling et al. (1966)

A field experiment involving 22 nurses who were instructed by a fake doctor to administer a harmful drug.

Results of Hofling et al. study

21 out of 22 nurses attempted to give the medication, despite it being twice the maximum dose.

Obedience rate with confederates

In a variation with 2 obedient teacher confederates, the obedience rate increased to 72.5%.

'Bring A Friend' Variation

In the 'Mr Wallace as victim' condition, the rate of full obedience (shocks of 450 volts) was 50%.

Situational factors

Factors that impact obedience, showing that ordinary people can commit inhumane acts under authority orders.

Independent decision-making

An individual's capacity for making independent decisions can be suspended under certain situational constraints.

Teacher's role in Milgram study

The teacher was to administer electric shocks for incorrect answers, believing the shocks were painful but not harmful.

Conclusions of Milgram study

Ordinary people are astonishingly obedient to authority, and crimes against humanity may result from situational rather than dispositional factors.

Nurses' control in Hofling study

When asked what they would do, 21 out of 22 nurses said they would not administer the medication.

Group pressure conclusions

The results from variations in the Milgram study suggest that group pressure can significantly influence obedience.

Teacher confederates

In the Milgram study, variations included 2 teacher confederates who were consistently fully obedient.

Rate of obedience

In the condition where the victim/learner was known to the teacher, the rate of obedience dropped to 15%.

Agentic state

A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our actions and we therefore allow others to direct our actions.

Legitimate Authority

An authority figure perceived as having greater power than we do, which influences our obedience.

Moral strain

The anxiety felt regarding our actions as an 'agent' in a destructive process.

Kilham and Mann (1974)

Research showing that in Australia, obedience dropped to 16%, supporting the validity of the agency theory through cross-cultural research.

Cult

A religious or social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices.

Characteristics of Cultic Groups

Excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, regarding his belief system as the Truth.

Questioning and dissent in cults

Discouraged or even punished within cultic groups.

Mind-altering practices in cults

Used in excess to suppress doubts about the group and its leaders.

Leadership in cults

Dictates how members should think, act, and feel.

Elitism in cults

Claims a special, exalted status for itself, its leaders, and members.

Us-versus-them mentality

A polarized perspective that may cause conflict with wider society.

Accountability of leaders in cults

The leader is not accountable to any authorities.

Justification of means in cults

The group teaches that its exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary.

Influence through shame and guilt

Induced by leadership to control members, often through peer pressure.

Subservience in cults

Requires members to cut ties with family and friends and alter personal goals.

Recruitment focus in cults

Preoccupied with bringing in new members.

Financial focus in cults

Preoccupied with making money.

Time devotion in cults

Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to group-related activities.

Socialization in cults

Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

True believers in cults

The most loyal members who believe there is no life outside the context of the group.

Fear of reprisals in cults

Members often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave or consider leaving the group.