SOCPSY 1Z03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Milgram Experiment, Deferral, Prank Call

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Social Psychology
• Course: SOCPSY 1Z03
• Professor: Paul Glavin

Document Summary

Prank caller convinced manager to search a 19 y/o employee suspected of drug possession- then brought in another employee to do a cavity search. Legitimated authority: threats/awards only work in direct settings -not as legitimate, police have power b/c of their role and the legitimacy we apply to it. Power: the ability to influences and control the behaviour of others even against their will, relational, involves someone else. High degree of social order in society. E. g. soldiers following orders to go into war b/c it"s the norm. For the greater good: diffusion of responsibility by participants. Deferral to expert authority reduced perceived personal responsibility. People will go against their morals if they have a feeling of low responsibility. Many people are just cogs in a machine. You change the situation you change compliance. Obedient to author is shaped by proximity and visibility to authority and consequences.