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Obedience and Social Influence

Core Concept

Definition of Obedience

Obedience is a type of social influence where an individual complies with a direct order or command from an authority figure. Understanding obedience is critical because it explains behaviors ranging from everyday compliance to participation in harmful acts, as seen in historical events.

Milgram's Agency Theory

Stanley Milgram’s experiments in the 1960s revealed the powerful influence of authority on obedience.

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Autonomous State

The individual feels responsible for their actions and acts according to their own principles.
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Agentic State

The individual views themselves as an agent executing the wishes of an authority figure, thus feeling less personal responsibility.

Agency Theory Dynamics

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Agentic State EffectIn the agentic state, people defer moral judgment to the authority figure and follow orders without questioning.
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Autonomous ResponsibilityThe individual feels responsible for their actions and acts according to their own principles.

Milgram’s Experiment Results

Despite visible signs of discomfort from the learner, many participants obeyed orders.

Role Task Voltage Conflict Obedience
Teacher Administer Shocks Up to 450V Personal Morals 65%
Learner Actor Receive Shocks Visible Discomfort High

Social Factors Affecting Obedience

These factors include the circumstances surrounding the command and the environment.

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Agency

When participants enter an agentic state, they shift responsibility to the authority figure, increasing obedience.
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Authority Legitimacy

If the authority’s status or legitimacy is diminished, obedience tends to drop.
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Culture

Societies with higher power distance (acceptance of unequal power distribution) tend to show higher obedience.

Proximity Influence

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What happens if the authority figure delivers commands remotely?
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Obedience decreases. When the authority is in close proximity, obedience is higher. If the victim is closer, obedience also decreases.

Dispositional Factors: Authoritarian Personality

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Adorno's Theory: Individuals with an authoritarian personality tend to be submissive to authority figures and rigidly conform to social conventions. They are more likely to obey orders without question.

Summary of Key Concepts

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Obedience

Compliance with orders from authority.
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Agentic State

Shift of responsibility to the authority figure.
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Milgram's Finding

65% obeyed fully, administering maximum voltage.
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Authoritarianism

Individual trait linked to submissiveness and rigid conformity.
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Obedience and Social Influence Deck
Term
Obedience

What is obedience in social psychology?

Answer
Definition

Compliance with a direct order or command from an authority figure.

Term
Milgram's Experiment

Who conducted the famous obedience experiments in the 1960s?

Answer
Researcher

Stanley Milgram.

Term
Agency Theory States

What are the two mental states in Milgram’s Agency Theory?

Answer
States

Autonomous State and Agentic State.

Term
Agentic State Description

What happens in the agentic state?

Answer
Explanation

The individual sees themselves as an agent executing the wishes of an authority, feeling less personal responsibility.

Term
Obedience Percentage

What percentage of participants fully obeyed in Milgram’s experiment?

Answer
Percentage

Approximately 65%.

Term
Legitimacy of Authority

How does the legitimacy of an authority figure affect obedience?

Answer
Effect

Higher legitimacy increases obedience; lower legitimacy reduces it.

Term
Cultural Influence

What cultural factor influences obedience levels?

Answer
Cultural Factor

Societies with higher power distance tend to show higher obedience to authority.

Term
Proximity Effect

How does proximity affect obedience?

Answer
Effect

Closer proximity to authority increases obedience; closer proximity to the victim decreases it.

Term
Authoritarian Personality

What is the Authoritarian Personality?

Answer
Definition

A personality type characterized by submission to authority, conventionalism, and aggression toward outgroups.

Term
Adorno’s Theory

According to Adorno’s theory, how does the Authoritarian Personality develop?

Answer
Development

From strict parenting emphasizing obedience and punishment.

Term
Importance of Understanding Obedience

Why is understanding obedience important?

Answer
Reason

It explains behaviors from everyday compliance to participation in harmful acts under authority influence.

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🌸 Obedience and Social Influence Quiz

1. In Milgram’s Agency Theory, what characterizes the agentic state?

In the agentic state, individuals see themselves as agents of the authority, reducing their personal responsibility.

2. True or False: Milgram found that less than half the participants administered the highest level of shocks.

About 65% of participants obeyed fully and administered the maximum shock level.

3. Which social factor is NOT directly linked to obedience in Milgram’s study?

Peer pressure is not a main social factor in Milgram’s obedience context; the others are.

4. According to Adorno’s theory, what personality trait increases obedience?

The authoritarian personality is linked to higher obedience due to submission to authority.

5. Fill in the blank: Higher ________ distance in cultures tends to increase obedience rates.

Power distance reflects acceptance of unequal power distribution, influencing obedience.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • GCSE
  • Communication
  • AQA