Factors Affecting Obedience: Situation + Culture

Question 1

What are the 3 situational factors that affect obedience?

Answer 1

-Legitimacy
-Proximity
-Behaviour of others

Question 2

What are the supporting evidence of each situational factor?

Answer 2

Legitimacy: V10 rundown office block
Proximity: V7 telephonic instructions
Behaviour: V13 ordinary man

Question 3

How can culture affect obedience?

Answer 3

Individualistic cultures value self-reliance making them less obedient.
Collectivist cultures value cooperation and are more likely to trust the group and be obedient.

Question 4

What is power distance index?

Answer 4

How accepting people are of hierarchical order and inequality.
High= highly obedient
Low= show dissent

Question 5

Evaluate the strength of culture affecting obedience.

Answer 5

Theories are backed by human experience.
The idea that some people are natural followers while others dissent is common sense giving it face validity.

Question 6

Evaluate the weakness of culture affecting obedience.

Answer 6

Research isn’t consistent.
Kilham and Mann
Australia participants scored low obedience in a replication of milligram’s study although high PDI and individualistic.