Obedience

Definition : It is a type of social influence when a person(s) follow direct commands, usually from authority. The person(s) may have not behaved that wayif they had not recieved the order.

Example : Teachers are usually seen as an authority figure, which would explain why an absence of teacher from the classroom usually results in rules being broken. Such as no talking or getting out your seat.

Conformity is different to obedience.

Conformity is about yielding to group pressures where behaviour is affected by peoples examples.

Whereas, Obedience means obeying demands from an authortive figure.

1. Authority figure must be seen a credible and respected or wele their requests will be disregarded.

2. We are all highly socialised to obey authorities.

3. Authorities command our attention because their ability to use several sources of social power.

Experimental study into nurse-physician relationship

Staff nurse on night duty phoned by someone claiming to be a doctor who was responsible for patient

Nurse asks to check medicine cabinet for a particular drug and asked to administer dose of drug twice the maximum allowed

The label stated on drug that it was very dangerous

95% of nurses measured out medication and were about to administer it.

Only stopped by hidden observer

Nurses pointed out that many doctors were in the habit of giving orders over the phone and became seriously annoyed if not obeyedd

Although such obedience was against regulations, the unequal power relations between doctors and nurses meant life would be difficult if nurses did not obey orders.

Hofling's study showed how the social pressure brought by an imblanace of power could lead to a nurder actually putting a patient at risk rather than chosing to disobey orders.

Milgram (1973) said people operate on two levels:

1. Autonomous Individuals ( act according to own values and beliefs)

2. Agentic Level (see themselves as acting as agents on behalf of another person so therefor are not responsible for their own actions)

It is possible for someone to move from autonomous state to agentic state (agentic shift) and as a consequence the individual no longer feels responsible for their actions. They instead blame those of higher authority. 

1. Coercive Power - Administer punishments ( Teacher)

2. Reward Power - Administer reward (parent)

3. Expert Power - Superior knowledge (teacher)

4.Referent Power - Someone you look up to (celebrity)

5. Legitimate Power - Offical post held (Principle)

High Statue, roles defined by society and have social power

Gives authority figure the right to exert control over others behaviour

Expecially evident when authority in uniform (Bickman 1974)

Women obey/conform more than men are more susceptible to social pressure (Crutchfield, 1955)

Females tend to hold lower status than males

Eagly and Carli, 1981 study suggests there are no significant diffrences between males and females in regard to obedience.

Major shifts in gener roles and stereotypes during last 30 years

Increasing number of woman in male orientated jobs 

Resulted in fading any tendancy of females either to be percieved as being more susceptible to social pressure than males.

Rules and regulations exist to reinforce obedience in society

Instilled from early age

Strong parental authority can result in individual internalising need for obendience (agentic state) and never questioning what they are told to do. Either at home, in school or later in life in the workplace.

Binding factors also keep individual in agentic state

Example :

Fear of disrupting social situation

Fear of questioning authority figure

Feeling of responsibility - Person who recieves commands from authoirty can be reminded that they  (not the authories) are responsible for any harm

Disobedient models - Person can be given clear indication that in certain situations unquestioning obedience to commands is inappropriate. Effective way to show this is to show person what kind of behaviour occurs when disobedience takes place. In this way a model for this type of behaviour is provided, making it easier for the person to follow on if they wish.

Questioning motives (eg politicans) - Find it easier to resist pressure to obey, if able to question authority. Person is reasoning out whether authority is in a better postion to judge what is appropriate and what is not. Also considering what motives lie behind commands - socially benefit or own selfish gain?

Rebellion - Gamson et al (1982) 97% of groups will show uncommon opinion and around 50% will completley rebel to unfair requests.

Psychological reactance - Brehm (1966) - telling people what to do and what not to do was a good way of getting them to do it! A percieved contraint on freedom leads to a resistance in order to assert freedom. Kohlberg (1969) found individuals who were at an advanced stage of moral reasoning were more likely to show higher levels of obedience

Socialisation - The society an individual is raised in can affect their level of independance. Higher rates of obedience were found in Germany than France. Inuit's show more independant behaviour than member of some African tribes (Berry,1966,1967).