The Social Approach: Understanding Obedience and Conformity

Ever wondered why people sometimes do things they know are wrong? Or why they follow the crowd even when it feels uncomfortable? The Social Approach in psychology tries to answer these questions by studying how our social environment influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Background: The Eichmann Trial

In 1961, Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking Nazi official, was put on trial for his role in the Holocaust. During the trial, Eichmann claimed he was only following orders and that he wasn't personally responsible for the horrific acts he committed. This sparked a lot of debate and led to the famous Milgram Experiment, which aimed to understand how easily people would obey authority figures, even when it meant harming others.

Key Concepts

-Obedience: This refers to following the orders of someone with authority, even if those orders go against your personal beliefs or morals. -Real-world example: A soldier following orders from their commanding officer, even if it means going into a dangerous situation.

-Conformity: This involves changing your behavior to fit in with a group or to match the perceived social norms. -Real-world example: Wearing the same clothes as your friends or following the latest trends because you want to be accepted.

-Social Roles: These are expected patterns of behavior associated with certain positions in a social group. -Real-world example: The roles of student, teacher, parent, or employee all come with certain expectations.

-Social Norms: These are unwritten rules about how people should behave in a particular society or group. -Real-world example: Greeting people with a handshake or saying "please" and "thank you" are examples of social norms in many cultures.

The Milgram Experiment:

-Aim: To understand how far people would go in obeying authority figures, even when it meant harming others.

-Method: Participants were told they were taking part in a learning experiment. They were instructed to deliver electric shocks to a "learner" (who was actually an actor) every time they got an answer wrong. These shocks increased in intensity with each wrong answer.

-Results: Surprisingly, over 60% of participants went all the way to the highest level of shock, even though they could hear the "learner" screaming in pain.

-Conclusion: The experiment showed that people are more likely to obey authority figures than they might think, even when it contradicts their own morals.

Factors Influencing Obedience and Conformity:

-The presence of authority: The power of authority figures can greatly influence obedience.

-Group pressure: When everyone else is doing something, it can be hard to resist conforming, even if you don't agree.

-Social norms: We are more likely to conform to behaviors that are seen as acceptable in our social group.

-Personal responsibility: If we feel like we are not personally responsible for our actions, we are more likely to obey or conform.

Why this matters:

Understanding the social approach helps us to:

-Recognize and challenge social influences: Being aware of social factors can help us to question our own actions and make more mindful choices.

-Understand social behavior: It helps us to understand why people behave the way they do in different social contexts.

-Improve social interactions: By being aware of social norms, we can navigate social situations more effectively and build stronger relationships.

Real-world applications:

-Education: Understanding how social factors influence learning can help teachers create more effective learning environments.

-Business: Understanding group dynamics and how to create a positive work environment can be crucial for success in the workplace.

-Politics and social change: The social approach can provide insights into how social movements develop and how to influence public opinion.

Critical thinking:

While the social approach offers valuable insights, it's important to remember that it's just one perspective. It's important to consider individual differences and other factors that might influence behavior. Ultimately, understanding the social approach can empower us to make more informed choices about our own actions and how we interact with others.