Obedience Psychology And Mental Health
Authority and subsequent concepts of obedience and disobedience are typically considered fundamental elements in every social context. The majority of humans generally exist in a hierarchical authority structure. Rules may be established for the greater good of a family, organization, or society. Still, the psychology of obedience can be nuanced and has been extensively studied, particularly the essential concept of destructive obedience, which can refer to following orders that may harm one's own or others’ well-being. If you’ve noticed that you may be prone to this form of social influence, speaking with a licensed therapist may enable you to get to the root of this tendency and address it accordingly.
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Change of behavior in obedience versus conformity?
Obedience can be defined as a social response to orders from an authority figure. The necessity of hierarchy for obedience may be important when distinguishing it from another type of social influence: conformity.
Both conformity and obedience usually require amenability, or a behavioral change based on social influence. However, obedience normally entails changing one's behavior due to an order from an authority figure, while conformity typically refers to changing something about oneself to align with the opinions and actions of other people or social norms, such as:
- Behavior
- Thoughts
- Attitudes
Social sciences and obedience
Obedience to authority has historically been an important topic of scientific investigation in social psychology and sociology. One of the first studies to empirically investigate obedience occurred in 1936. The researchers generally sought to identify the psychological structures that determined how dependent humans were on the rules of society.
Researchers mainly focused on obedience within family structures because the family is usually the first to introduce the concept of authority. They then extrapolated their findings to a larger social context, determining that obedience to authority has likely been a crucial part of success for most human groups throughout history.
Obedience in ancient history
Before the scientific investigation of obedience, the concept was debated by philosophers throughout history. In antiquity, debates about obedience to authority appeared in the works of notable philosophers, including Plato's Crito and Apology. In those works, Plato describes the tale of his mentor, Socrates, who was unjustly convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to death.
Destructive obedience
Psychologist Stanley Milgram and destructive obedience
Following World War II, social psychology generally saw an increased interest in destructive obedience. In 1963, an American psychologist from New York named Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment to search for conditions likely to lead to destructive obedience. The study, which came to be known as the Milgram paradigm, established three roles:
- The teacher
- The learner
- The experimenter
Study participants were assigned as teachers, and the experimenter and learner were both confederates of the study, meaning they were placed to play specific roles. However, study participants believed that the experimenter and learner were both legitimate participants as well.
The purpose of Milgram's study was to observe how the participant (the teacher) reacted to the experimenter's commands, who was positioned as an authority figure. Milgram and his team theorized that most people would apply lower-level shocks at the experimenter’s behest, but few would apply the maximum electric shock, despite the experimenter’s pressure.
Milgram's famous study produced obedience rates that deeply contradicted the study organizers’ expectations. Researchers found that nearly 65% of participants applied the maximum electric shock when instructed. This study has long been cited as an example of an authority's ability to influence a person's internal sense of right and wrong. Many naive participants in the study exhibited extreme distress at the thought of harming another person, yet still complied with the experimenter’s orders. The Milgram experiment is one of the most well-known and controversial social psychology studies in history.
How it works
Psychological aspect of obedience through the better-than-average effect
Using an experimental approach, the study conducted by Stanley Milgram demonstrated that most people can be susceptible to the influence of a perceived authority figure. Contemporary research into obedience usually reinforces this finding and additionally identifies another layer of the psychological aspect of obedience through the better-than-average (BTA) effect.
The BTA effect states that most people believe they are better than the average person regarding certain abilities or traits. For example, in Milgram's study, the BTA effect indicates that most participants would likely consider themselves unwilling to comply with the authority figure’s instructions to administer harm via a shock generator.
Milgram’s obedience study design
Milgram's obedience experiments are not repeated today due to ethical concerns, as many participants were significantly distraught at the perceived torture. However, one 2012 study attempted to replicate the experiment by examining whether a person would disobey and become a whistleblower when encountering unethical behavior.
The experimental research study involved two groups of participants. The first group of participants received a description of the study and were asked how likely it was that they would follow the unethical instructions of the experimenter.
The second group of participants went through the pseudo-experiment and had three choices:
- Follow the unethical instructions of the experimenter
- Disobey
- Disobey and report the actions of the unscrupulous research team
The results of the Milgram obedience study
The researchers compared the results of both groups. The first group established a baseline of perceived response to an unethical experiment, and the second group established what people would actually do.
In the first group, 96.4% of participants reported they would disobey or become whistleblowers. However, the second group demonstrated different behavior, as 76.5% of participants obeyed the experimenter, and only 9.4% became whistleblowers.
The BTA effect can illustrate an important concept in obedience. Most people have difficulty accurately assessing their obedience tendencies. As research into obedience continues, more light may be shed on the unique differences between individuals' tendencies to obey.
The Stanford Prison Experiment and Zimbardo’s experiment
In 1971, Phillip Zimbardo conducted a research experiment known as the Stanford Prison Experiment that roughly mirrored Milgram’s work. Zimbardo’s experiment converted college students to either prisoners or guards to test individual responses to orders from an authority figure. While the study was supposed to last for two weeks, the guards became so brutal that the experiment had to be ended prematurely after just six days.
What the experiment showed
Like Milgram’s electric shock study, the Stanford Prison experiment showed that human behavior may be less dependent on an individual’s personality characteristics or moral standards than on the social context they’re placed in.
Behavior reinforcement and conditioning while learning from commands
Therapy may enable you to explore your relationship with authority and obedience, among other topics.
Online therapy is often viewed as an increasingly popular way to avail psychotherapeutic services. You can avail of therapy from your home, and you can match with therapists outside of your geographic area. Those facing therapist shortages may turn to online therapy as a viable alternative.
Stats that speak for themselves
Online therapists normally use the same evidence-based techniques as traditional therapists, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can effectively improve many mental health concerns. A therapist can help you understand your relationship to obedience and authority and encourage you to change your life. Evidence indicates that when therapy is administered online, it can be just as effective as in-person therapy.
Takeaway
Obedience is often considered an important concept in humanity. Early philosophers debated the merits of obedience to society and individual well-being. Modern science demonstrates that obedience can vary and be a nuanced concept. A significant portion of the research in this specific area has been dedicated to destructive obedience, referring to situations in which a person obeys authority at the detriment of their own well-being or the well-being of others.
Evidence suggests that most people will obey authority rather than relying on their sense of right and wrong, and that people may have trouble perceiving their own tendencies to obey or disobey. To delve into your own tendencies toward obedience or disobedience, consider scheduling a session with an online or in-person therapist.
What are good obedience psychology questions to discuss with your counselor or psychologist?
Talking to a counselor or therapist can be a helpful way to learn more about the psychology of obedience and explore its effects on your life and relationships. Depending on your current challenges, you might consider asking your counselor questions like:
- How can I learn to follow my own morals and judgment, even when they go against what I’m being told to do?
- Can learning to set healthy boundaries help me avoid destructive obedience? If so, where do I start?
- How do environmental factors like work stress affect my tendency to obey others?
- Can you help me explore how my upbringing and family history might have affected my relationship with authority figures?
- How can I learn to resist peer pressure?
- How do I unlearn the belief that disobeying orders makes me “difficult” or a “bad person”?
Questions like these can serve as a starting point for exploring obedience with your mental health professional.
What is an example of obedience psychology?
Several famous examples from history can help illustrate the power of obedience to authority in human psychology. For instance, in the aftermath of World War II, Nazi official Adolf Eichmann notoriously tried to justify his role in the Holocaust using the defense that he was “just following orders.” This defense sparked an interest in the psychology of obedience and the effect of direct orders from someone of a higher status on a person’s sense of right and wrong.
Later, the Milgram experiment aimed to shed light on this topic. Psychologist Stanley Milgram wanted to understand if people could be led to harm others just by receiving orders from someone in a position of power. In the experiment, participants believed they were giving a series of electric shocks to someone in another room. Although the people in the other room were not actually being electrocuted, they pretended to be in increasing amounts of pain with each subsequent shock.
If the participant refused to keep delivering shocks, the experimenters would use a series of verbal prods to encourage them to continue, such as “You have no other choice” and “It is essential that you continue.” The experiment would end if the person giving the shocks continued to refuse or after they had delivered three shocks in a row at the maximum level.
In his laboratory studies, Milgram found that people are often surprisingly obedient to authority figures, even when what they’re being asked to do harms others or goes against their morals. Nearly 65% of participants obeyed the experimenters, despite the cries of pain from the person “receiving” the shock.
What does learning about obedience psychology look like?
If you’re interested in learning about the psychology of obedience, you may want to start by:
- Researching Stanley Milgram’s experiment, as well as other scientific studies conducted by social psychologists on obedience, peer pressure, conformity, and authority
- Educating yourself about group psychology and how peer pressure and social dynamics can affect behavior
- Reflecting on examples of destructive obedience from politics, history, or current events (e.g., the mass murders of German citizens during the Holocaust)
In addition, you may also find it helpful to talk to a psychologist or therapist about the ways obedience appears in your own life and relationships.
What is Milgram’s theory of obedience?
Milgram’s theory of obedience states that individuals are likely to obey orders from a person in an authoritative role because they feel less responsibility for their actions when carrying out instructions from someone in authority.
What was the main point of Milgram’s obedience study?
The main point of Milgram’s experiment is that it illustrates how ordinary people can compromise their morals and values under the right circumstances, especially when under the influence of authority and group pressure.
What factors contribute most to obedience?
There could be many factors that contribute to obedience, including:
- The presence of an authority figure
- Symbols of authority (e.g., a police officer’s badge)
- Others’ responses to orders
- Personality traits
How is obedience learned in children and adults?
In children and adults, both positive and negative reinforcement (alongside other factors) may play a role in obedience.
What is the Stanford Prison Experiment, and why is it controversial?
The Stanford Prison Experiment is a foundational study in social psychology that demonstrates the power of authority to control people's behavior. It’s controversial because many people regard it as an unethical abuse of power.
Does personality determine obedience?
Yes. Personality can determine obedience to some degree. For example, people who have an agreeable personality or those who respect authority are more prone to obedience. Still, other factors may also play a role.
How can understanding obedience help in everyday life?
Understanding the nature of obedience can help people make informed decisions. By learning that obedience is influenced by authority, for instance, you can weigh this against your reasons for deciding whether to obey or disobey.
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