Obedience Flashcards
What is the definition of obedience
A form of social influence where a person follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is normally someone of authority
Describe and explain one real life example of obedience
During the Vietnamese war, a platoon of soldiers named the Charlie company slaughtered 500 innocent Vietnamese villagers after being under heavy fire from Vietnamese soldiers in previous days.
When interviewed upon return to the U.S, lieutenant William calley claimed he was only following orders from his superiors/the rest of the platoon claimed they were only following orders from Calley
Explain the Germans are different hypothesis by Milgrim in 1974
The German is a different hypothesis states that Germans have a basic character deficit, which means they have a readiness to obey people in authority. Regardless of the acts they are being asked to carry out 
Give an overview of Milgrams electric shock study in 1974
Aim = to investigate whether participants would obey authority despite going against all moral reasoning
Procedure = the real participant would administer increasing electric shocks to the confederate for every incorrect answer.
Results = 100 percent of participants shocked up to 300 volts, and 65 percent went to 450 volts
Conclusion = people would obey instruction from those Seen as legitimate authority figures, even if they were to inflict harm upon another person
Give 4 explanations for obedience
Legitimate authority figure = levels of obedience increase if the authority is seen as legitimate
The agentic state = when a person acts on behalf of an authority figure - don’t feel any sense of guilt/responsibility
Gradual commitment = individuals to bring with are asked to perform trivial, seemingly harmless tasks. Once individuals have complied, they find it increasingly harder to disobey more serious requests
Buffers = anything that reduces the immediacy and impact of the orders given, or reduce the depersonalisation of the victim.
