Lecture on Social Psychology: Obedience

Key Topics

• Psychological definition of obedience
• Positive and negative effects of obedience
• Real-life context of obedience
• Milgram's Agency Theory of Obedience

Psychological Definition of Obedience

• Obedience: Complying with rules set by a recognized authority, potentially involving sanctions for non-compliance.
• Involves giving up personal free will to follow authority, even against personal beliefs.

Effects of Obedience

• Positive Effects:
  • Prevents accidents (e.g., driver obeying road signs).
• Negative Effects:
  • Destructive Obedience: Following immoral orders that harm others.

Real-Life Context of Obedience

• Milgram's research was inspired by the Holocaust.
• Initial hypothesis: German culture fostered extreme obedience.
• Findings: People in general are surprisingly obedient.

Milgram's Agency Theory of Obedience

• Two States of Behavior:
  • Autonomous State:
    • Individuals act independently and take responsibility.
    • Guided by free will and moral conscience.
  • Agentic State:
    • Individuals act as agents for authority.
    • Authority figure assumes responsibility for actions.
  • Socialization contributes to development of agentic state.

Socialization and Obedience

• Childhood Socialization:
  • Society teaches the importance of obedience.
  • Reinforced in school settings to maintain order.
• Adulthood:
  • Adults often prioritize organizational needs over personal desires.

Moral Strain

• Moral Strain: Distress when actions conflict with personal morals.
• Use of defense mechanisms (e.g., denial) to cope.

Evaluation of Agency Theory

• Supporting Evidence:
  • Milgram's 1963 study and variations.
  • Hoffling's nurse experiment.
  • Bushman's uniform study.
• Weaknesses:
  • Alternative theories (e.g., Charismatic Leadership Theory).
  • Does not explain individual differences (e.g., Gretchen Brunt's refusal in Milgram's study).

Exam Preparation

• Practice exam questions on agency theory to consolidate understanding.

Conclusion

• Understanding agency theory helps explain obedience in historical and social contexts.
• Essential to evaluate different theories to gain a comprehensive understanding of obedience in social psychology.