To understand obedience, it is important to also understand how it differs fromcomplianceandconformity.
Obedience involves altering your behavior because an authority figure has told you to do so.
Obedience vs. Conformity: How They Differ
Obedience is an essential concept in psychology.
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However, obedience must be distinguished from other types of social influence, including conformity.
People obey because they are commanded to, but conform because they want to gain approval from their peers.
Milgrams Obedience Experiments
During the 1950s, psychologistStanley Milgrambecame intrigued with theconformity experiments performed by Solomon Asch.
Throughout the trial, Eichmann suggested that he was simply following orders.
Milgram had set out to explore the question, “Are Germans different?”
He soon discovered, however, that many people are surprisingly obedient to authority.
Milgram wanted to knowwould people really harm another person if they were ordered to by an authority figure?
Just how powerful is the pressure to obey?
In 2009, researchers partially replicated Milgram’s study, but with a top shock of 150 volts.
The study found that obedience rates were only slightly lower than those originally reported by Milgram.
While Milgram’s study had problems, subsequent research has suggested that people are surprisingly willing to obey orders.
Zimbardos Prison Experiment
Milgrams controversial experiments generated a great deal of interest in the psychology of obedience.
During the early 1970s, social psychologist PhilipZimbardo staged an explorationinto the study of prisoners and prison life.
Why did the researchers end the experiment so early?
Participants in the study reportedly faked their responses to leave early.
Others reported amplifying their behaviors to help give the experimenters the results they were looking for.
Critics suggest that the study lacks scientific merit and credibility due to these notable problems with its procedures.
Helpingleaders understand their powerin social situations can also help them use it more effectively and responsibly.
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