Legitimacy of Authority as an Explanation for Obedience

Question 1

What two factors enhance Legitimacy of Authority?

Answer 1

Uniforms and location

Question 2

What study supports the idea of Legitimacy of Authority as an explanation for Obedience?

Answer 2

Milgram’s Situational Variables

Question 3

How is Legitimacy of Authority created?

Answer 3

The hierarchal nature of society learnt in childhood

Question 4

What is Legitimacy of Authority?

Answer 4

Authority that is socially accepted and recognised, therefore legitimising it

Question 5

How does Legitimacy of Authority increase Obedience?

Answer 5

You are more likely to obey someone you perceive to have legitimate power and authority over you

Question 6

What study subverts the idea of Legitimacy of Authority as an Explanation for Obedience?

Answer 6

Rank & Jacobson’s Nurse study, as only 2 of the nurses (11%) obeyed, despite the authority (a doctor) being clearly legitimised

Question 7

What real-world evidence is there of Legitimacy of Authority causing obedience?

Answer 7

War crimes (eg. the Holocaust)- individuals perceived the authority as legitimate, and therefore followed orders despite going against their morality

Question 8

Does Legitimacy of Authority acknowledge other factors that may affect obedience, such as your personality type?

Answer 8

No- in this respect it oversimplifies what causes obedience, especially in instances of disobedience where the authority is clearly legitimate

Question 9

What differences can Legitimacy of Authority explain in terms of obedience levels?

Answer 9

Cultural differences, as a result of different cultures having different degrees of acceptance to legitimate authority

Question 10

What levels of obedience did replications of Milgram’s Experiment find in Australia compared to Germany?

Answer 10

16% in Australia compared to 85% in Germany