Understanding Conformity and Obedience

Social Pillars: Solidarity and Status

Social psychologist Roger Brown identified two critical components of social existence: solidarity and status. Solidarity is reflected in group behaviors like sociability, cohesiveness, and altruism. Conversely, status is represented by hierarchical relationships based on wealth, power, perceived competence, or attractiveness.  Generally, obedience stems from hierarchical relationships, while conformity is more closely associated with solidarity. 

Conformity and Obedience: Different Behaviors, Similar Motives

Similar behaviors can sometimes arise from different motivations. It's crucial to distinguish between the observed behavior and its inferred cause. Conformity is behavior that aligns with the actions of one or more others. The inferred cause is usually the desire to gain social approval, which also implies a hierarchical relationship—obedience to the implicit demands of the group.

Sources of Conformity:

 Levy (2008) gives us several sources of conformity:

1.  Power conformity: Aligning behavior to obtain rewards or avoid punishments from the larger group.
2. Groupthink: A phenomenon where group members, especially advisors, become unwilling to criticize a leader's decisions, even if flawed.
3. Informational conformity: Imitating the group to gain knowledge, like looking up at a building when others do.
4. Normative conformity: Aligning with established beliefs about appropriate conduct in a situation.
5. Conformity to inaction: When individuals observe no action from the group, they may imitate that inactivity.

Types of Obedience

1. Power obedience: Based on the desire to obtain rewards or avoid punishment for disobeying.
2. Normative obedience: Obeying to fulfill the expectations of the group.

Kelman's Influences (Levy 2008): While power relationships are often implied, both conformity and obedience can be shaped by three attributes of the influencing agent:

1. Power or resource control
2. 
   
   
   Credibility (belief in the agent's ideas)
3. Attractiveness (desire to identify with the agent)

Historical Context

Social psychology as an experimental science is a 20th-century phenomenon. However, the importance of conformity and obedience has been recognized for millennia. From ancient philosophers like Socrates to historical events like the American Civil Liberties Union's Vietnam War case, discussions surrounding these concepts have been ongoing.

The Milgram Experiment: A Landmark Study on Obedience

Stanley Milgram's research on obedience to malevolent authority is considered one of the most impactful studies in social psychology.  The experiment explored how far individuals would go in obeying an authority figure, even when it involved inflicting harm on another person (an accomplice).  The results were startling, revealing high obedience despite the ethical implications. (Levy,2008).

Understanding the Power of Dissent

Research by Allen and Levine, Schachter, and others highlights the crucial role of dissent in reducing conformity.  A single dissenter, especially a compromising dissenter who offers an alternative perspective, can significantly decrease the pressure to conform.

Conclusion

Conformity and obedience are complex social phenomena with significant implications. Understanding these concepts can give us valuable insights into human behavior and social dynamics. This knowledge can empower us to resist undue pressure to conform and to question authority figures when necessary.

References

1.  Levy, S. G. (2008). Conformity and obedience. In L. Kurtz (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict (2nd ed., pp. 412-426). Academic Press.