Factors affecting obedience

Question 1

What is the Authoritarian Personality and how does it affect obedience?

Answer 1

• People with an authoritarian personality are more likely to obey authority figures.
• They are rigid in their beliefs, respect authority, and are hostile to people of lower status.

Question 2

What is Locus of Control and how does it influence obedience?

Answer 2

• Locus of control refers to how much people believe they are in control of their own lives.
• Internal LOC = believe they control their actions → less likely to obey.
• External LOC = believe things happen due to fate or others → more likely to obey.

Question 3

Does gender affect obedience?

Answer 3

• Milgram (1963) found no significant gender differences.
• Sheridan & King (1972) found females were more obedient than males in a puppy study.
• Conclusion: Gender may play a small role, but situation and personality matter more.

Question 4

How does culture affect obedience?

Answer 4

• Individualist cultures (e.g., UK, USA) value independence → lower obedience.
• Collectivist cultures (e.g., China, Korea) value group harmony → higher obedience.

Question 5

How do situational factors influence obedience?

Answer 5

Milgram showed several situational factors affect obedience:

• Proximity of authority figure (closer = more obedient)
• Prestige of the setting (Yale = more obedient)
• Uniform (lab coat = more obedient)
• Social support (disobedient peers = lower obedience)

Question 6

How does the presence of others (social support) affect obedience?

Answer 6

If others refuse to obey, individuals are more likely to disobey too.
- In Milgram’s variation with 2 disobedient confederates, obedience dropped to 10%.
This shows peer influence plays a big role in resisting authority.