Question

Sociology Milgram's Obedience Experiment

Write 1-3 paragraphs in which you discuss the implications of the findings. In other words, how does this research add to our understanding of the extent to which groups and/or authority can have power over behavior?

a. In your discussion of the implications of the research, use information from Chapter 5 in order to argue the ways by which this research demonstrates the power of groups/authority on an individual’s behavior.

b. You must use at least two concepts/terms/theories from Chapter 5. Be sure that these terms are relevant to the study’s findings and that you show you understand the concept/term/theory in your writing. You must bold or underline the concept/term/theory that you use or else it will not be counted.

Answer 1

Perhaps the most direct way in which one person can attempt to change the behaviour of another is through direct orders – simply telling the target person what to do. This approach is less common than either conformity pressure or compliance tactics but it is far from rare; it occurs in many situation in which one person has clear authority over another - in the military, in sport, in the business etc. Here cones the concept of obedience - a form of social influence in which one or more individuals behave in specific ways in response to direct orders from someone.

Several factors probably contribute to the high level of obedience. These factors produce a powerful force that one that most persons find difficult to resist. Obedience depends on the hierarchy of power. It is found that the powerful persons in office and society have authority to command the lower level employees or persons and the lower level people are forced to obey the order. The lower level employees are to obey for the fear od punishment.