Authority Figures

Definition

Authority figures refer to individuals who hold positions of power or influence and are seen as having the right to give orders or make decisions.

Related terms

Obedience:

Obedience is when individuals follow direct orders or commands from an authority figure without questioning them. It involves complying with requests or instructions given by someone in a higher position.

Milgram Experiment:

The Milgram Experiment was a study conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram that explored obedience to authority. 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.

Conformity:

Conformity refers to adjusting one's thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors in order to match those of a group or societal norms. In relation to authority figures, conformity can lead individuals to obey orders simply because others are doing so as well.