One Reason That People Are Willing to Obey Persons in Authority

question 56

Multiple Choice

One reason that people are willing to obey persons in authority who order them to engage in destructive behaviors is that ________.

• A)total submission to the commands of authority figures is always an appropriate course of action
• B)the authority figure may inadvertently stimulate heuristic mental processes that limit our ability to think about what we are doing
• C)authority figures are selected on the basis of their superior knowledge and understanding in most situations
• D)the authority figure relieves those who obey of responsibility for their actions
• E)the authority figure represents a significant threat to those who do not obey

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Definitions:

1930s

The 1930s was a decade marked by the Great Depression, a global economic downturn, and significant social, political, and cultural changes, leading up to World War II.

My Lai Massacre

A mass killing of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops in 1968 during the Vietnam War, causing widespread outrage and increasing opposition to the war.

Burger Court

The term refers to the time when Warren E. Burger served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, from 1969 to 1986, characterized by significant rulings including those on abortion and the death penalty.