Authority: Directed Deference

8 important questions on Authority: Directed Deference

What was the milgram experiment?

people were asked to give another person electric shocks, everytime they gave a wrong answer.  (the other person was not visible, didn't get any shocks, and was an actor)

The participants continued to give shocks (which should have been deadly if they were real) if the investigator said to continue, even if the other person begged them to stop.  

Almost everyone continued untill the end because they were told so by an authority figure.

authority principle

How does the authority principle work?

People have an innate sense of duty to authority.
age,educational level, job, e.o. doesn't matter.

What was the behaviour in the larry king shows?

If there was someone with a higher authority -> larry matched their voices.
If there was someone with a lower authority -> they matched larry kings voice
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What is the influence of authority or titles on perception?

people with a higher authority or title seem taller to other with less authority

Rule for the authority principle

you dont have to see the other person for it to work. If they say that they have an higher authority ( someone who says that he is a doctor, talking to a nurse over the phone )

What is the danger of the authority principle?

You can follow the cammands blindly, even if they are wrong and dangerous. (a high medicine dosis that was a mistake.)

Dangers with the authority principle?

People underestimate the power of authority influence

Guards against the power of authority?

1 prepare yourself for the authority
2 determine if the authority is really an expert
3 determine if he is a relevant expert for the situation.

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