L7.2 - Legitimate Authority (situational explanation)

Question 1

Describe legitimate authority

Answer 1

People more likely to obey those they perceive are in a position of social control, e.g. guards

Question 2

How can legitimate authority be shown?

Answer 2

Uniform

Question 3

Where does power of legitimate authority come from?

Answer 3

Perceived position in a social situation

Question 4

Legitimate authority may depend on

Answer 4

Location, e.g. institution: prison for prison guards

Question 5

People tend to do what?

Answer 5

Allow a legitimate authority figure to define the meaning of the actions that person makes

Question 6

There’s a shared expectation that

Answer 6

Situations usually have a socially controlling figure

Question 7

Advantage related to guard, milkman, or smart clothes experiment?

Answer 7

Asked to pick up litter

90% obeyed guard 50% obeyed civilian

Question 8

Advantage related to black box study?

Answer 8

Aviation accidents
Officers depended on captain’s authority
Knew actions were questionable but assumed the “knew what they were doing”

Question 9

Disadvantage related to vagueness?

Answer 9

Vague in how it explains legitimate authority
How people were taught to recognise it
Who it varies between cultures
Location can affect it