Variables Affecting Obedience Flashcards
What are the situational variables affecting obedience (external explanation)?
proximity
location
uniforms
How does proximity affect obedience?
involves how aware individuals are of the consequences of their actions in obeying authority figures.
How does location affect obedience?
The location of an environment can be relevant to the amount of perceived legitimate authority a person giving orders is seen to have
How does uniforms affect obedience?
The wearing of uniforms can give a perception of added legitimacy to authority figures when delivering orders,thus increasing obedience rates
How does proximity apply to Milgrims research?
In Milgrims study the physical distance between the teacher and learner in Milgrim’s study was made closer, P’s were less able to divorce themselves from the consequences of their actions and so obedience rates were lower
How does location apply to Milgrims research?
If the experiment was carried out in a location that add to the perceived legitimacy of an authority figure, obedience rates will be higher and vice versa
How does uniforms apply to Milgrims research?
In Milgrims experiment, the confederate researcher wore a lab coat to give him such an air of authority
What is the authoritarian personality? (internal explanation)
proposed as an attempt to explain those holding right-wing, conservative views
it is a personality type characterized by a belief in absolute obedience, submission to authority and domination of minorities
Why are people who have an authoritarian personality obedient to authority figures?
as they have insecurities that led them to be hostile to non-conventional people and having a belief in a need for power and toughness, which leads them to be highly obedient to authority figures
What causes someone to develop an authoritarian personality?
shaped in early childhood by hierarchical, authoritarian parenting
How is someone’s degree of authoritarian personality measured?
by the F-scale questionnaire which has 30 questions assessing nine personality dimensions
What is a criticism of the F-scale?
The F-scale suffers from response bias, as the scale is worded in a confirming direction. Therefore, if individuals agree with items they are rated as authoritarian
