We are going outside grab your coats Everyone stand up We are going outside grab your coats

Obedience

Definition Obedience A type of social influence whereby someone acts in response to direct order from a perceived authority figure

So obedience to authority is A type of social influence, in which an individual acts in response to a direct order from a figure they perceive to have authority. The person receiving the order is seen as responding in a way they wouldn’t have without the order.

Why do you think we obey authority? Obedience Why do you think we obey authority? Why were you obedient in this situation? Why might it be argued that obedience is important and some ways fundamental to our society?

Why do you think we obey authority? Human nature – dispositional - Personality Upbringing - We are taught to respect rules Experience teaches us authorities are generally trustworthy We assume people have more knowledge or expertise Most people dislike confrontation We may be scared of consequences i.e. of not obeying

authority is based in power.

Low status = no authority Without power authority usually has little influence, and therefore the authority figure is of low standing

Objectives: To know what obedience is. To be able to describe in detail Milgram’s (1963) investigation into obedience.

Remember to pre-read before each lesson. Look out for articles and original studies on your blog. Find film clips that expand your understanding Look at the hyper links in the digital textbook

Reminder: pre-read before each lesson. There is a great film on you tube called 5 steps to Tyranny It is narrated by Zimbardo. It uses psychological research to explain how people can become monsters. I recommend you watch it. I also recommend ‘The Reader’

What questions will psychologists want to answer? WW2 has just ended. What questions will psychologists want to answer?

WHY?

What do you think ? Can a ‘normal’ person be made to do ‘evil’ things? Do they take much convincing?

When we think of the atrocities that some people have committed against others – we could ask the question Is this the result of evil people doing evil things? Is this the result of ordinary people doing evil things? Is this the result of normal people doing normal things?

Abu Ghraib 2004 Striking similarities between SPE and Abu Ghraib Guards extended their authority to include horrific acts of abuse and degradation against the Iraqi prisoners

Abu Ghraib 2004 Striking similarities between SPE and Abu Ghraib Guards abuded their authority resulting in horrific acts of abuse and degradation against the Iraqi prisoners

Adolf Eichmann Was in charge of implementing the ‘final solution’ (Nazi extermination of the Jews) He was found guilty of crimes against Jews and hanged in 1962

‘It would have been comforting to believe that Eichman was a monster… The trouble with Eichman was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are terribly and terrifyingly normal’ Arendt, 1965

SO…….Why did he do it? Psychologists look for explanations of human behaviour in all sorts of places. How we think. What we have learnt. Our biological nature. Social psychologists look at the effect other people have on us – social influence

Joe Darby – Abu Ghraib ‘Whistle Blower’ stood up against the majority and brought the horrific incidents to an end – also stood up in court against his peers to see them brought to justice. Read the following articles to extend your knowledge http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/30/AR2005043000006.html http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/05/21/prison-abuse-soldiers-were-following-orders/

What did Milgram do & Why? Aims? What did Milgram do & Why? Still relevant today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3l170cMRDQ – The torturers 