Factors Affecting Obedience: Psychological Factors Flashcards
Socialisation
Most societies are hierarchical, the authority of parents/ police is seen as legitimate as it is argued by society. From an early age we learn to obey the rules of society.
Authoritarian parenting personality
Adorno proposed there was such a thing as a personality. Authoritarian parents expect their kids to obey, which leads them to be an obedient adult.
Perceived legitimate authority
This explanation suggests that people will obey someone they perceive to be above them in the social hierarchy. With regard to milgram the experimenter is seen as having legitimate authority as he is a scientist.
Bickman did a study with three men, one dressed as a security guard, one in normal clothes and one as a milk man. Obedience levels were highest for the security guard.
Autonomous and agentic behaviour
People move from an autonomous to an agentic state when they obey. Autonomous is when individuals act according to their own values and beliefs and take responsibility for those actions. When in an agentic state individuals pass on consequences and binding factors help to keep people in an agentic state.
