The Role of Power in Obedience Essay -- Political Science Law Politics

To Obey or refuse The Role of bureau in respectfulness plentys termination to copy or dis practise the law is based on how untold motive (in its variousforms) they perceive the law to have behind it. The power of coercion is wizard maintained by everygovernment in human story the power to punish. The power of legitimacy is a some(prenominal) more insidious power the power to appear as an billet and let others take that you know best.While enforcing law, authorities go away performance both these powers. some(prenominal) powers underscoregovernment and societys skill to control us and to get us to obey.Why do we obey? Stanley Milgrams Obedience to Authority, a series of tests inwhich subjects were told to administer what they believed to be high-voltage electrical semiconsciousnesss to large number who they thought were experimental subjects, shows us the strike extent of peoplesobedience in the face of power. Whereas it was hypothesized that some of the subjects wouldactually shock their supposed experimental subjects, the actual experiments showed adisturbingly high level of compliance with government agency figures despite the apparent nuisance evincedby the irrational experimental subjects. (Cover 223) Even when the false experimental subjects(actually full a immortalize recording of responses) screamed with supposed agony, the vast majority ofthe subjects, although show some distrust and concern for their victims, still neverthelessshocked them once again and again at the behest of the authority, even after the victims had gonesilent. (Cover 223) The almost artifice obedience of these subjects was collectible to the power oflegitimacy and expertise they perceived the authority figures behind the experiment to have. The2authorities were able to impose their will ... ...human, we will forever retain our freedom of thought and our decision to obey or disobey.5Works CitedCover, Robert M. The Violence of lawful Acts. Before the rectitude An Introduction to the healthyProcess. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston HoughtonMifflin Company, 2002. 223.King, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Before the equity An Introduction to the effectual Process. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. BostonHoughton Mifflin Company, 2002. 158-162.Kropotkin, Peter. impartiality and Authority. Before the integrity An Introduction to the Legal Process.Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston Houghton MifflinCompany, 2002. 158-162.Tyler, Tom. Why do People Obey the Law? Introduction to Legal Studies A Reader. Ed.Thomas Hilbink. Amherst joint Copies. 475-495. The Role of Power in Obedience Essay -- Political intelligence Law PoliticsTo Obey or Disobey The Role of Power in ObediencePeoples decision to obey or disobey the law is based on how much power (in its variousforms) they perceive the law to have behind it. The power of coercion is one maintained by everygovernment in human history the power to punish. The power of legitimacy is a much moresubtle power the power to appear as an authority and let others presume that you know best.While enforcing law, authorities will exercise both these powers. Both powers underscoregovernment and societys ability to control us and to get us to obey.Why do we obey? Stanley Milgrams Obedience to Authority, a series of experiments inwhich subjects were told to administer what they believed to be high-voltage electric shocks topeople who they thought were experimental subjects, shows us the disturbing extent of peoplesobedience in the face of power. Whereas it was hypothesized that few of the subjects wouldactually shock their supposed experimental subjects, the actual experiments showed adisturbingly high level of compliance with authority figures despite the apparent pain evincedby the false experimental subjects. (Cover 223) Even when the false experimental subjects(actuall y just a tape recording of responses) screamed with supposed agony, the vast majority ofthe subjects, although showing some hesitation and concern for their victims, still neverthelessshocked them again and again at the behest of the authority, even after the victims had gonesilent. (Cover 223) The almost blind obedience of these subjects was due to the power oflegitimacy and expertise they perceived the authority figures behind the experiment to have. The2authorities were able to impose their will ... ...human, we willalways retain our freedom of thought and our decision to obey or disobey.5Works CitedCover, Robert M. The Violence of Legal Acts. Before the Law An Introduction to the LegalProcess. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston HoughtonMifflin Company, 2002. 223.King, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Before the Law An Introduction to theLegal Process. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. BostonHoughton Mifflin Company, 2 002. 158-162.Kropotkin, Peter. Law and Authority. Before the Law An Introduction to the Legal Process.Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston Houghton MifflinCompany, 2002. 158-162.Tyler, Tom. Why do People Obey the Law? Introduction to Legal Studies A Reader. Ed.Thomas Hilbink. Amherst Collective Copies. 475-495.