SOC 014 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Authoritarianism, Moral Disengagement

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 014
• Professor: Lutz F Kaelber

Document Summary

Meta analysis: summarizes, reviews, critiques, and/or combines previous research studies on given subject. Regardless of whether authority derives from experimenter"s expertise or power, central is authority legitimacy. Findings: actual obedience rates are still underestimated; estimates are robust over time. No significant changes in obedience levels over time. Possible exception: in very patriarchal societies, men less likely to accept female authority. As learners (victims): women possibly slightly less severely shocked. Absence of differences observed across time and cultures. Made up of three attitudinal and behavioral clusters: total submission to established authorities, generalized aggression to all enemies of those authorities, blind adherence to established social norms and conventions. Beware when democratic governments lose voters trust in being able to cope with a major attack or threat. The executive curtails the powers of the legislative and judicial branches of government, the press, civil rights and liberties, and dissent. Commission of atrocity = violation of norm -> perpetrators rationalize inhumane behavior through moral disengagement.