Obedience and Bickman's uniform study

Overview

Obedience and authority figures, Milgram and agency theory, Bickman's field experiment on the power of a uniform, and free will and determinism.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is obedience?

   Model answer

   Obedience is following a direct order from a person in authority. The person obeying might not have acted that way without the order.

2. 2

   How is obedience different from conformity?

   Model answer

   Obedience is a response to a direct order from someone of higher status. Conformity is a response to group pressure from people of equal status, usually without any order.

3. 3

   What is an authority figure?

   Model answer

   An authority figure is a person seen as having the legitimate right to give orders. Police officers, teachers and parents are examples, often recognised by a uniform or title.

4. 4

   What did Milgram (1963) show about authority figures and obedience?

   Model answer

   Milgram found that 65% of participants obeyed an experimenter's orders to give shocks up to the maximum of 450 volts. Every participant went to at least 300 volts.

5. 5

   What is agency theory?

   Model answer

   Agency theory says that people obeying an authority figure shift into an agentic state. A person in the agentic state sees themselves as acting for the authority and so feels less responsible.

6. 6

   What was the aim of Bickman's (1974) study?

   Model answer

   Bickman aimed to measure how much social power a uniform gives its wearer to make people obey. Bickman also tested whether the uniform still works when the wearer acts outside their normal role.

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