Symbols of Authority, Clothing - Social Psychology - Slides | PSY 300W, Study notes of Psychology

Download Symbols of Authority, Clothing - Social Psychology - Slides | PSY 300W and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! 1 We are more likely to comply when the person making the request has authority over us Hofling et al. (1966) “This is Dr. Smith, from Psychiatry, calling. I was asked to see Mr. Jones this morning, and I’m going to have to see him again tonight. I don’t have a lot of time, and I’d like him to have some medication by the time I get to the ward. Will you please check your medicine cabinet and see if you have some Astroten? That’s A-S-T-R-O-T-E-N. Reasons for the Nurse Not to Obey The prescription was given by phone, in direct violation of hospital policy. The medication had not been cleared for use nor placed on the ward stock list. The prescribed dosage was dangerous. The directive was given by a man the nurse had never met. 2 Yet ________% of the nurses from 22 separate stations obeyed! Symbols of Authority Titles Clothing Automobiles Clothing 5 Overall Compliance 0 20 40 60 80 100 None Status Role Authority Questioned Perceived Authority 0 20 40 60 80 100 None Status Role Authority Hostile 0 20 40 60 80 100 None Status Role Authority 6 Unquestioned Obedience 0 20 40 60 80 100 None Status Role Authority Doob & Gross (1968) Independent variable: ___________________ ___________________ Dependent variable: Percent of drivers who honked their horn. Note: Two cars hit the bumper of the low status car 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Low status High Status % honked 7 Your Counterattack Is this authority truly an expert? This question helps us consider the substance of authority rather than the symbols of authority. How truthful can we expect this expert to be? This question helps us consider how trustworthy the authority is