obedience and conformity - exam

Question 1

define obedience

Answer 1

Refers to complying with commands which are often given by a source of authority

Question 2

what can the outcome of obedience be

Answer 2

Obedience can be constructive, meaning it can result in a positive outcome for society.

Example
* Citizens adhering to laws

Obedience can also be destructive, meaning it can result in a negative outcome for society.

Example
* Soldiers obeying orders to harm innocent civilians and nurses.

Question 3

Blind obedience

Answer 3

Blind obedience is when individuals obey a powerful figure to the extent of taking part in activities they normally wouldn’t as they know they are wrong.

Example
* Nazi soldiers blindly obeying the order of Hitler to attempt genocide against Jewish communities

Question 4

list of Factors that affect obedience

Answer 4

1. Status of the authority figure
2. Proximity (social and relational)- physical and emotional
3. Group pressure

Question 5

Status of the authority figure

Answer 5

Individuals are more likely to obey the commands of those they perceive to have status or power.

e.g. an individuals might be more likely to show their licence to a police officer (who they may perceive to have high status or power) than their sibling (who they may perceive to have low status or power)

Question 6

Proximity (social and relational)- physical and emotional

Answer 6

Individuals are more likely to obey the commands of those to whom they are physically close.

e.g. a student may be more likely to respond to a teacher if they are standing right next to them, rather than on the side of the room.

Individuals are also more likely to obey someone who they have a closer relationship with.

e.g. student may be more likely to listen to a teacher they have been straight by before and know than a teacher who they have just met.

Question 7

Group pressure

Answer 7

Individuals are more likely to obey commands when they observe others obeying the commands.

e.g. if students observe a majority of their class sitting down as their teacher commanded, they are most likely to also sit down.

Question 8

Conformity

Answer 8

Conformity is adjusting one’s thoughts, feeling, or behaviours to match those of others, a social group, or a social situation.
 Stems from our innate desire to belong and be accepted. ‘’going along with the crowd’’.

Question 9

Reasons for conforming

Answer 9

Social norms- society’s unofficial rules and expectations regarding how individuals should act.

Social norms are the ‘’unspoken’’ and ‘’unofficial’’ rules of a society/community. The presence of the social norms can lead us to change/adjust our behaviour to fit in.

Question 10

resons for conformity
Group shift

Answer 10

Group shift- the idea that, the more influential a group that we belong to is, the more likely we are to conform to them.

e.g. friends are more influential than a group of co-workers, so we are more likely to conform to our friends

Question 11

resons for conformity
Group thinn

Answer 11

Groupthink- when the group we belong to has a unanimous decision/perspective (they all agree). We are more likely to conform, regardless of influentially.

e.g. if all your friends want to go see a movie, but you secretly don’t like the movie, you are more likely to say that you like the movie because you don’t want to cause trouble.