Exam (elaborations)
PYC4803 Assignment 2 2024 (785738) - DUE 26 July 2024
- Course
- PYC4803 (PYC4803)
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
PYC4803 Assignment 2 2024 (785738) - DUE 26 July 2024 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
[Show more]
Content preview
[Date]PYC4803
Assignment 2
2024 (785738) -
DUE 26 July 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
, PYC4803 Assignment 2 2024 (785738) - DUE 26 July 2024
(A) Give your own example of destructive obedience that occurred in your
society and explain possible reasons as to the underlying reasons why people
comply with this form of social influence. (20 marks)
Example of Destructive Obedience in Society
One prominent example of destructive obedience in contemporary society is the
abuse and mistreatment of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by U.S.
military personnel in the early 2000s. The personnel involved in these incidents
were following orders and directives from higher-ranking officials, which led to
severe physical and psychological abuse of prisoners.
Possible Underlying Reasons for Compliance
Authority and Legitimacy
1. Perceived Legitimacy of Authority: The orders came from superiors in the
military hierarchy. In a structured and hierarchical institution like the
military, orders from above are perceived as legitimate and are expected to
be followed without question. The authority of the superiors is
institutionalized, making their commands more likely to be obeyed.
2. Institutional Authority: The military as an institution has a strong culture
of obedience and discipline. Soldiers are trained to follow orders as part of
their duty, often without questioning the morality or legality of those orders.
This culture reinforces the legitimacy of the commands given, even when
they involve destructive actions.
Social and Situational Factors
3. Conformity to Group Norms: Within the prison, a culture of mistreatment
developed, where abusive behavior became normalized among the soldiers.
When individuals see their peers engaging in certain behaviors, they are
more likely to conform to those behaviors, especially in a high-stress and
isolated environment like a military prison.
4. Dehumanization of Victims: The detainees were often seen as enemy
combatants or terrorists, leading to their dehumanization. This psychological
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller mpumeleloh. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R50,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
81113 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now