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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Authority and Obedience
Have you ever wondered why people follow orders, even when they might not want to? This fascinating area of psychology explores how authority figures can influence our behaviour in powerful ways. Understanding obedience helps us make sense of both everyday situations and historical events where people followed harmful orders.
Key Definitions:
People obey authority figures for several key reasons:
According to sociologist Max Weber, there are three main types of authority:
One of the most famous studies in psychology was conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. Milgram wanted to understand how ordinary people could commit atrocities during the Holocaust by "just following orders."
In Milgram's original study (1963), participants were told they were taking part in a study about memory and learning. They were assigned the role of "teacher" and had to deliver electric shocks to a "learner" (who was actually an actor) when they gave incorrect answers. The shocks increased in intensity with each wrong answer, from 15 volts to a potentially lethal 450 volts.
Despite hearing cries of pain and pleas to stop from the learner, 65% of participants continued to the maximum 450-volt shock when instructed to do so by the experimenter. This shocking result revealed how readily ordinary people would obey authority, even when it meant potentially harming another person.
Key verbal prompts used by the experimenter:
Milgram and subsequent researchers identified several factors that influence whether people obey authority:
The closer the victim (learner) was to the participant, the less obedient participants became. When participants could see and touch the learner, obedience dropped to 30%.
When the experiment moved from the prestigious Yale University to a run-down office in Bridgeport, obedience levels dropped from 65% to 48%.
When the experimenter gave instructions by telephone rather than being physically present, obedience dropped significantly to just 20.5%.
When participants observed others refusing to obey, their own obedience dropped to 10%. Having allies makes resistance easier.
The experimenter's lab coat symbolised scientific authority. Studies show people are more likely to obey those in uniforms that signal authority.
When participants didn't directly administer shocks but instructed someone else to do so, obedience increased to 92.5% due to psychological distance.
Milgram conducted several variations of his original experiment to identify what factors affected obedience levels:
When the learner was placed in the same room as the participant, obedience dropped to 40%. When participants had to physically force the learner's hand onto a shock plate, obedience dropped further to 30%.
Conclusion: Proximity to the victim reduces obedience as it becomes harder to ignore the consequences of our actions.
When participants observed two other "teachers" (actually confederates) refuse to continue with the experiment, only 10% of participants continued to the maximum voltage.
Conclusion: Social support makes it much easier to disobey destructive orders.
Understanding obedience helps explain many real-world situations:
The Abu Ghraib prison scandal in 2003, where US soldiers abused Iraqi prisoners, has been linked to obedience to authority and demonstrates how ordinary people can commit harmful acts when ordered to do so by authority figures.
Milgram's research raised serious ethical concerns that have shaped how psychology research is conducted today:
Despite these ethical issues, many argue the knowledge gained was valuable in understanding human behaviour in response to authority. Modern replications have been conducted with stronger ethical safeguards while confirming Milgram's core findings.
Research suggests several strategies that can help people resist harmful orders:
Being willing to question orders that seem unethical or harmful is the first step in resistance. Critical thinking about the legitimacy and morality of commands is essential.
Remember that legitimate authority should be based on expertise and moral values, not just position or power.
Developing the strength to stand up against harmful orders takes practice. Start by speaking up in small situations where you disagree with authority.
Seek social support from others who share your concerns, as Milgram's research showed this dramatically increases resistance to harmful orders.
Understanding the psychology of obedience doesn't just help us explain past events it gives us tools to create a more ethical future where harmful orders are more likely to be questioned and resisted.
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