Introduction: Why do we follow orders?
Have you ever wondered why we listen to teachers, police officers, or even our parents, even when we don't really want to? This is called obedience. In this part of Topic 5: Social Influence, we are going to look at why people follow orders, what makes us more likely to obey, and most importantly, how we can stop ourselves from "blindly" following orders that might be wrong or harmful.
Note: This chapter focuses specifically on obedience. If you want to learn about following a group (conformity) or the behaviour of crowds, check out the other chapters in Topic 5!
1. What is Obedience?
In Psychology, obedience is a type of social influence where an individual follows a direct order from another person. This person is usually an authority figure—someone we perceive as having power or higher status than us.
The difference between Obedience and Conformity:
- Conformity: You change your behaviour to "fit in" with a group of your peers (people like you).
- Obedience: You follow an order from someone "above" you in a hierarchy.
Quick Tip: Think of a boss telling an employee what to do. That is obedience. Think of a group of friends all wearing the same style of trainers. That is conformity.
2. Factors Affecting Obedience: The Situation
Psychologists have found that our environment (the situation) plays a massive role in whether we obey or not. Here are the key situational factors you need to know:
A. Proximity
This refers to how close you are to the authority figure. If the person giving the order is in the same room as you, you are much more likely to obey. If they are giving orders over the phone or via email, it is much easier to ignore them.
B. Status of the Authority
We are more likely to obey people we perceive as having legitimate authority. This often comes from their position in society (like a judge or a doctor) or the setting they are in (like a prestigious university or a hospital). If the person doesn't look or act like they have the "right" to give orders, we are less likely to follow them.
C. Personal Responsibility
When we are given an order, we often feel that the authority figure is responsible for the outcome, not us. If we feel that "I was just doing what I was told," we are more likely to obey, even if the order is cruel.
Key Takeaway: The situation often has a stronger pull on our behaviour than we realize. Even "good" people can do bad things if the situational pressure is high enough.
3. Factors Affecting Obedience: Personality
Not everyone reacts to the situation in the same way. Some people are naturally more obedient than others because of their personality.
The "Obedient" Personality Type
Some individuals have a personality that makes them highly respectful of authority and tradition. These individuals often:
- See the world in "black and white" (things are either right or wrong).
- Dislike people they perceive as "lower" in status than themselves.
- Believe strongly that people should follow rules without question.
Did you know? Someone with this personality type might have been raised in a household with very strict rules and harsh punishments, leading them to grow up with a deep-seated need to respect those in charge.
4. Preventing "Blind Obedience"
Blind obedience happens when people follow orders without thinking about the consequences or the morality of what they are doing. History shows us that blind obedience can lead to terrible events. Psychology suggests several ways we can prevent this:
A. Social Support (Disobedience)
It is very hard to be the only person to say "no." However, if you see someone else refuse to follow an order, it becomes much easier for you to refuse too. Having a disobedient peer gives you the confidence to follow your own conscience.
B. Familiarity with the Situation
When we are in a new or confusing situation, we look to authority figures to tell us what to do. By educating ourselves about how social influence works, we can recognize when we are being pressured and take a step back to think.
C. Distance and Questioning
Increasing the distance between ourselves and the authority figure, or asking questions like "Why am I doing this?" and "Who is responsible if this goes wrong?", can break the "spell" of obedience. This moves us from an automatic response to a thoughtful one.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume that only "bad people" obey bad orders. Research shows that almost anyone can be influenced by the factors mentioned above!
5. Issues and Debates: Social and Cultural Issues
In your exam, you might be asked how obedience relates to social and cultural issues. This is a big part of Topic 5.
Society: Different societies have different levels of respect for authority. In some cultures, questioning a teacher or a boss is seen as very disrespectful, which might lead to higher levels of obedience.
Culture: Some cultures are individualistic (valuing independence), while others are collectivist (valuing the group and social harmony). This can change how people react to authority figures.
Quick Review Box:
- Obience: Following a direct order from an authority figure.
- Situational Factors: Proximity, status, and responsibility.
- Personality Factors: Individual traits that make someone more likely to respect rules.
- Prevention: Use social support, ask questions, and increase awareness of how influence works.
Math Connection: In Paper 2, you might be asked to calculate the percentage of people who obeyed in a study. Remember: \( \text{Percentage} = (\frac{\text{Number who obeyed}}{\text{Total number of participants}}) \times 100 \).