Obedience and Conformity

What is obedience?

• Obedience is following a direct order from an authority figure, even if it conflicts with personal beliefs.

• Obedience is always agreeing with your friends' opinions.

• Obedience is making your own decisions regardless of rules.

• Obedience is ignoring instructions from authority figures.

Obedience: Give an example of obedience.

• Student stays after class as instructed, even if unfair.

• Student chooses to leave early despite being told to stay.

• Student ignores the teacher's request to stay after class.

• Student negotiates with the teacher to leave early.

What did Milgram’s study show?

• 65% of participants gave 450V shock on command. Highlights obedience to authority despite moral discomfort.

• Most participants refused to follow orders and stopped early.

• Participants were more likely to obey if the authority figure was absent.

• The study proved that people are naturally resistant to authority.

Obedience: People can obey harmful orders if given by someone in authority. Milgram’s study showed obedience is common even under stress. (Summary)

• True

• False

What is conformity?

• Conformity is adjusting behaviour or beliefs to match group norms due to real or imagined pressure.

• Conformity is the process of creating new group norms.

• Conformity is ignoring group norms and acting independently.

• Conformity is the ability to persuade others to change their beliefs.

Give an example of conformity.

• Boy wears popular shoes to fit in.

• Boy invents a new style of shoes.

• Boy refuses to follow any trends.

• Boy wears shoes that no one else has.

What did Asch’s study show?

• 75% conformed at least once; 32% on average. People conformed even when answers were obviously wrong.

• Most participants never conformed and always gave correct answers.

• Conformity rates were below 10% in all cases.

• Participants were more likely to conform when alone.

Conformity is a powerful social influence. Asch showed people change their behaviour to avoid standing out.

• True

• False

What are social norms?

• Social norms are unwritten rules guiding acceptable behaviour.

• Social norms are government laws enforced by police.

• Social norms are scientific theories about society.

• Social norms are personal preferences for fashion.

What are injunctive vs descriptive norms?

• Injunctive norms: what people approve/disapprove (e.g., 'Don’t steal wood—it’s wrong'). Descriptive norms: what most people do (e.g., 'Many people take wood').

• Injunctive norms: what most people do (e.g., 'Many people take wood'). Descriptive norms: what people approve/disapprove (e.g., 'Don’t steal wood—it’s wrong').

• Injunctive norms: what people do in private. Descriptive norms: what people do in public.

• Injunctive norms: what is legally required. Descriptive norms: what is morally accepted.