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Obedience is a form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order from a person perceived to be a legitimate authority figure. Unlike conformity, obedience involves a clear difference in social status between the person giving the order and the person obeying. Stanley Milgram's research on obedience remains one of the most significant — and most controversial — studies in the history of psychology.
Key Definition: Obedience is a form of social influence where an individual follows a direct order or instruction from an authority figure. The person who obeys is usually of lower status than the person who gives the order.
It is important to distinguish obedience from conformity, as exam questions may require you to compare them:
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