Social Influence Part 3 Flashcards

PSYC 491

What is obedience?

A form of social influence where an individual follows a direct order or command from an authority figure, often seen in studies such as Milgram's experiment.

What was Milgram’s Obedience Study (1963)?

A series of experiments conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram to examine the extent to which individuals would obey authority figures, even when requested to perform actions conflicting with their personal conscience.

What percentage of participants in Milgram’s study were obedient until the end?

65%

What is the slippery slope of actions? (Obedience)

Participants gradually obey increasingly demanding commands and are reluctant to quit as it is seen as an admission of fault

What comes from the definition of the situation and “role”? (Obedience)

Refers to how individuals interpret and respond to the demands of authority within a given context, significantly influencing their likelihood to obey.

What did we mean by fragmentation of the human act? (Obedience)

Minimizing the responsibility of the participant by placing the majority of blame on the experimentor

Define “Avoidance of the victim” (Obedience)

Avoiding or refusing to acknowledge the victim of the harmful actions, making it easier to comply with authority demands.

What ways can you reduce obedience?

Increase participant responsibility for harm, indicate that total submission is inappropriate, question the motives and expertise of authority figures, and increase awareness of the power of obedience