Obedience to Authority
"Obedience to Authority" refers to the tendency of individuals to follow orders or instructions from an authority figure, even when those orders conflict with personal morals or ethics. This concept was famously studied by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, where participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to others, demonstrating how people can comply with authority under pressure.
The phenomenon highlights the psychological mechanisms that drive compliance, such as the desire for approval, fear of punishment, and the belief in the legitimacy of authority. Understanding this behavior is crucial in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior.