Obedience Situation Factors and Culture

Question 1

Describe the role of legitimacy in obedience situations.

Answer 1

Legitimacy refers to the perception of authority, which can be influenced by factors such as the authority figure’s uniform, their manner of dress, the status of the venue, or whether it is prestigious.

Question 2

How does proximity affect obedience levels?

Answer 2

Proximity involves the distance between the authority figure and the individual. Greater space and time distance can lead to an autonomous state, while physical or psychological barriers can alter levels of obedience.

Question 3

Define the role of allies in obedience and disobedience.

Answer 3

Allies can serve as role models that encourage disobedience, alleviating the binding factors to the authority figure by providing a sense of camaraderie among dissenters.

Question 4

Explain the difference between individualism and collectivism in terms of obedience.

Answer 4

Individualism, typical of Western industrialized countries, values personal autonomy and self-reliance, leading to less obedience. Collectivism, found in cultures like China and Brazil, emphasizes loyalty to the group and cooperation, resulting in higher obedience and a sense of duty.

Question 5

What is the Power Distance Index and its significance in obedience?

Answer 5

The Power Distance Index measures how accepting individuals are of hierarchy and inequality in society, influencing their levels of obedience based on cultural attitudes towards authority.

Question 6

How do individual differences impact obedience and prejudice?

Answer 6

Individual differences refer to variables that distinguish one person from another, affecting how they respond to authority and prejudice, which social theories often overlook in favor of universal processes.

Question 7

Describe the focus of social psychologists like Milgram and Sherif regarding obedience.

Answer 7

Social psychologists like Milgram and Sherif tend to concentrate on the obedient and discriminating majority, drawing conclusions from their behavior rather than focusing on the minority who disobey.

Question 8

What are situational factors in obedience and prejudice?

Answer 8

Situational factors pertain to the context of where individuals are and who they are with, rather than their personal characteristics, influencing their behavior in obedience and prejudice.

Question 9

Define culture in the context of obedience and prejudice.

Answer 9

Culture encompasses the behaviors and beliefs learned by individuals growing up in a specific community, which can significantly influence their attitudes towards obedience and prejudice.

Question 10

How do cultural variables like deference affect obedience?

Answer 10

Cultural variables, such as deference, influence how individuals respond to authority figures, shaping their levels of obedience based on societal norms and values.

Question 11

Describe the findings of Shanab & Yahya’s replication of the Milgram study with six-year-olds.

Answer 11

Shanab & Yahya found that there was no significant change in obedience with age, suggesting that different age-related factors may cancel each other out.

Question 12

How does in-group favoritism develop in children according to Aboud & Amata (2001)?

Answer 12

In-group favoritism and out-group discrimination seem to develop around age 5, but prejudice tends to decline after that.

Question 13

Define the factors that influence children’s development of prejudice.

Answer 13

Children learn prejudice from their family background, friendship groups, and wider society, including media influences, making it difficult to distinguish between individual differences and situational factors.

Question 14

What did Burger (2009) find regarding gender differences in obedience?

Answer 14

Burger found no statistical difference in obedience between men and women in his study.

Question 15

How did Kilham & Mann (1974) contribute to the understanding of gender differences in obedience?

Answer 15

Kilham & Mann found that only 16% of women obeyed compared to 40% of men in their replication of Milgram’s study.

Question 16

Explain the significance of the ‘Male Warrior Hypothesis’ proposed by Navarrete et al. (2012).

Answer 16

The ‘Male Warrior Hypothesis’ suggests that males have evolved to exhibit behaviors that favor aggression and in-group protection, which may influence their levels of prejudice.

Question 17

Discuss the implications of gender roles on obedience as suggested in the content.

Answer 17

The content suggests that females may be raised to be more compliant, potentially leading to differences in obedience, but studies show mixed results, indicating that these factors may cancel each other out.

Question 18

What was the outcome of the obedience studies conducted by Shanab & Yahya (1978) and Meeus & Raaijmakers (1986)?

Answer 18

Both studies found no significant difference in obedience levels between male and female participants.

Question 19

How might situational factors influence children’s obedience and prejudice?

Answer 19

Situational factors, such as the authority figure’s gender or the context of the instructions, can influence children’s obedience and their responses to prejudice.

Question 20

What role does media play in shaping children’s attitudes towards prejudice?

Answer 20

Media influences children’s attitudes towards prejudice by exposing them to societal norms and values, which can reinforce or challenge existing biases.

Question 21

Describe the characteristics of individuals with an Authoritarian Personality.

Answer 21

Individuals with an Authoritarian Personality tend to project their own feelings of inadequacy, rage, and fear onto scapegoats, have a strong id but a weak ego, and possess a strict super-ego that induces feelings of guilt and shame.

Question 22

How do individuals with Authoritarian Personalities respond to authority figures?

Answer 22

They may act out their antisocial urges without guilt when given immoral orders by authority figures, due to their strict super-ego.

Question 23

Define the defense mechanism used by individuals with Authoritarian Personalities.

Answer 23

The defense mechanism used is called projection, where they project their sense of shame and weakness onto those with less power.

Question 24

What is the relationship between Authoritarian Personalities and non-conformists?

Answer 24

Authoritarian individuals tend to pick on non-conformists, homosexuals, and free-spirited individuals because they are disturbed by those who act on their feelings.

Question 25

How does the F-Scale relate to obedience in individuals?

Answer 25

The F-Scale, developed by Adorno, measures authoritarian traits, and studies have shown that those who score higher on the F-Scale tend to be more obedient to authority figures.

Question 26

Explain the findings of Elms and Milgram’s study on obedience.

Answer 26

Elms tested the most obedient and rebellious participants from Milgram’s experiments and found that high scorers on the F-Scale administered more shocks and held the buttons longer, indicating a dispositional element in obedience.

Question 27

What message did Woody Guthrie have on his guitar, and what does it signify?

Answer 27

Woody Guthrie had the message ‘THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS’ on his guitar, signifying a strong opposition to fascism and authoritarianism.

Question 28

How do individual differences and situational factors interact in the context of obedience?

Answer 28

Individual differences, such as personality traits, and situational factors, like the presence of authority figures or out-groups, likely interact to influence how people respond to authority.

Question 29

What psychological explanation did Adorno provide for the Authoritarian Personality?

Answer 29

Adorno offered a psychodynamic explanation, suggesting that individuals with Authoritarian Personalities have a strong id (act on impulses), a weak ego (the rational, balancing component of the psyche) , and a strict super-ego,(the internalized rules and moral standards) leading to their antisocial behaviors.

Question 30

Describe the emotional state of individuals with Authoritarian Personalities towards weakness.

Answer 30

Individuals with Authoritarian Personalities are terrified of being weak, which leads them to despise those who are weaker than themselves.