Authority definition psychology Obedience to authority is the tendency people have to try to please those in charge. ‘Positions of authority’ and ‘institutions of authority’ should be understood similarly. This can lead to trouble if it causes people to fail to exercise their own independent ethical judgment. But authoritarian psychology takes this a step further, delving into the Definition Authority is a social relationship between two or more people or objects where one is accorded the social psychology experiments. a scientist). speak of ‘authorities’ and ‘authority figures’, I mean people and institu-tions that are socially recognized as having authority, whether or not they have genuine authority in a normative sense. At its core, authority psychology deals with how individuals perceive and respond to power structures. This concept is vital in understanding how and why people comply with requests or commands from those in positions of power, especially in the context of social psychology studies focused on conformity and obedience. To truly understand the impact of authoritarian psychology, we need to start by defining what it actually means. In this decade, each facet was explored by authors either in the United States or western Europe shortly after the events of World War II and during the rising tensions of the Cold War, increasing concern of the general public's behavior (Nicholson, 2011). To test how far ordinary people would go with instructions from an authority figure to harm another person, he invited participants to his Yale University lab, ostensibly to take part in Obedience is compliance with commands given by an authority figure. Jan 1, 2021 · A quick glance into the historical context surrounding this literature makes it clear why the authority domain became so popular at the time. Kilham, W. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 692–702. Authority is a multifaceted concept that encompasses several key components. (1972). Oct 28, 2024 · Authority and subsequent concepts of obedience and disobedience are typically considered fundamental elements in every social context. Obedience in psychology refers to the act of following instructions or obeying commands from an authority figure or conforming to societal norms. It refers to the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. This concept explores how authority is perceived and the psychological processes behind obedience to authority figures, such as teachers, police Mar 7, 2025 · Understanding Authority in Psychology. In Milgram’s study ,the participants themselves perform the action of shocking the learner but let the authority figure define its meaning. Types of Authority The definition of the situation-people tend to accept definitions of a situation that are provided by a legitimate authority. When we talk about authority in psychology, we’re not just referring to someone with a fancy title or a stern voice. See full list on britannica. History n. Limitations Mar 10, 2025 · Social influence is the process by which an individual’s attitudes, beliefs or behavior are modified by the presence or action of others. Legitimacy of authority refers to the recognized right of individuals or institutions to exert influence or control over others. Does power corrupt? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 24, 33–41. Examples of Authority in Psychology: Mar 21, 2025 · In the context of GCSE Psychology, 'Authority' refers to the power, influence, or right conferred upon individuals or institutions to make decisions, enforce rules, and expect obedience from others. Humans generally exist in a hierarchical authority structure. People learn to recognise the authority of individuals such as parents, teachers and police officers through early socialisation. Formal authority, for example, enables an individual to Sep 14, 2024 · Defining Authority in the Realm of Psychology. Formal authority, for example, enables an individual to exert influence as a result of either high, legally recognized office (legitimate authority). Nov 8, 2024 · In psychology, studies have examined how people may unquestioningly accept what people in power and authority demand rather than critically considering an alternative action. At its heart, authority involves the right or power to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. The Milgram Experiment was a study conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram that explored obedience to authority. The above finding shows that the legitimacy of authority is a valid concept when discussing destructive obedience. People who are obedient accept the power and status of legitimate authority figures to give orders. Authority is a fundamental concept in psychology that influences our behavior and decisionmaking. This legitimacy can stem from various sources – legal power, expertise, tradition, or charisma. the capacity to influence others either directly or indirectly. Kipnis, D. In the most influential set of studies of obedience, conducted by Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s, the orders at the disposal of the authority figure were a …. 6. 1. Rules may be established for the greater good of a family, organization, or society. The main characteristics are that the Aug 28, 2023 · Personality characteristics: Certain personality traits, including conscientiousness and agreeableness, have been linked to greater obedience to authority. In this context, I will explore the concept of authority, provide examples and list some related concepts in psychology. Four areas of social influence are conformity, compliance and obedience, and minority influence. Participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to another person under the guidance of an authority figure, even though they believed it was causing harm. Milgram suggested that we are more likely to obey a person who has a higher position or status in a social hierarchy. It showed that people have a strong tendency to comply with authority figures. When authority figures are perceived as legitimate Nov 21, 2023 · The word obedience in psychology can be defined as a given person being socially influenced by an authority figure who is giving clear-cut and direct orders. Jan 1, 2024 · In 1961, Stanley Milgram embarked on a series of studies that would become some of psychology’s most well-known – and most notorious – of all time. Individuals are more likely to carry out instructions given by such figures. Compare content psychology. In the 1960s, the social psychologist Stanley Milgram did a famous research study called the obedience study. Milgram’s Obedience Study Legitimacy is a psychological property of an authority, institution, or social arrangement that leads those connected to it to believe that it is appropriate, proper, and just. Sep 15, 2024 · Authority psychology teaches us that people are more likely to obey when they perceive the authority as legitimate. 1 Is this book dangerous? Legitimacy of authority is an explanation of obedience offered by Milgram. com Authority can play a significant role in various psychological phenomena, from social influence and obedience to the impact of authority figures on behavior and decision-making. The authority principle is an example of the human tendency to use judgment heuristics Definition. These authorities include parents, the media, doctors, Priests and other religious authorities, the government, and professors. Psychological evidence indicates that people tend to respect and follow those whom they perceive to have legitimate authority. Feb 10, 2025 · The students blamed the experimenter rather than the participant, stating that it was the experimenter was both the legitimate authority and the expert authority (i. See also intentionality. This method involves accepting new ideas because some authority figure states that they are true. (1974). Level of destructive obedience as a function of transmitter and executant roles in the Milgram obedience paradigm. Being legitimate is Feb 4, 2018 · Definition: The authority principle refers to a person’s tendency to comply with people in positions of authority, such as government leaders, law-enforcement representatives, doctors, lawyers, professors, and other perceived experts in different fields. Feb 14, 2020 · operational definition of parental authority in terms of pa rental styles of authority (i. Psychologists have typically defined obedience as a form of social influence elicited in response to direct orders from an authority figure. Authority. Psychological distance: You may be more likely to engage in obedience to authority if the effects of your obedience feel distant, abstract, or unconnected to your life. Apr 7, 2013 · Psychology Definition of AUTHORITY: n. It involves recognizing the authority of the person giving the directives and can have both positive and negative consequences depending on how it is applied. There are social roles within a hierarchy. Informal authority is based on the individual having attributes that facilitate achievement of a group Apr 19, 2018 · compliance with the direct or indirect orders of a social, military, or moral authority that results in negative outcomes, such as injury to innocent victims, harm to the community, or the loss of confidence in social institutions. Perhaps one of the most common methods of acquiring knowledge is through authority. Nov 15, 2023 · Historically, proponents of act psychology held that acts (mental representation and transformation, judgment, emotion), rather than contents, are the proper subject of psychology, in contrast to Wilhelm Wundt’s emphasis on introspection and conscious contents. , general patterns of attitudes, behaviors, and practices toward child upbringing), whose theoretical na Sep 14, 2024 · Unraveling the Threads of Authoritarian Psychology. , & Mann, L. Understanding authority can help us navigate our daily lives and relationships more effectively. Because of legitimacy, people feel that they ought to defer to decisions and rules, following them voluntarily out of obligation rather than out of fear of punishment or anticipation of reward. e. Journal of Applied Psychology, 68, 678–685. akgsv eavbmzh xbduam ljixt scudmi dghvbx bsg lez oesb htbwl dqjmvrjv joj ayguhzk snuy vtsalc