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

To ad skillful or decline The Role of Power in Obedience wads decision to attend or dis pursue the law is found on how practically actor (in its variousforms) they perceive the law to necessitate behind it. The power of coercion is one maintained by anygovernment in human history the power to punish. The power of genuineness is a untold moresubtle power the power to face as an indorsement and let others presume that you know best.While enforcing law, government bequeath work both these powers. Both powers underscoregovernment and nightclubs aptitude to control us and to get us to obey. wherefore 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 horizon were observational subjects, shows us the pitiful extent of peoplesobedience in the face of power. Whereas it was hypothesized that some of the subjects would demonstrcapablel y shock their supposed experimental subjects, the actual experiments showed adisturbingly high level of compliance with position figures disrespect the apparent annoyance evincedby the infatuated experimental subjects. (Cover 223) Even when the false experimental subjects(actually just a tape recording of responses) screamed with supposed agony, the coarse majority ofthe subjects, although cover some hesitation and concern for their victims, still withalshocked them again and again at the behest of the authority, even after the victims had gone(p)silent. (Cover 223) The almost art obedience of these subjects was due to the power oflegitimacy and expertness 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 intelligent Acts. Before the rightfulness An Introduction to the LegalProcess. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston HoughtonMifflin Company, 2002. 223.King, Martin Luther. earn from Birmingham Jail. Before the uprightness An Introduction to theLegal Process. Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. BostonHoughton Mifflin Company, 2002. 158-162.Kropotkin, Peter. jurisprudence and Authority. Before the equity An Introduction to the Legal Process.Eds. Bonsignore, Katsh, dErrico, Pipkin, Arons, Rifkin. Boston Houghton MifflinCompany, 2002. 158-162.Tyler, Tom. wherefore do tidy sum Obey the Law? Introduction to Legal Studies A Reader. Ed.Thomas Hilbink. Amherst collective Copies. 475-495. The Role of Power in Obedience essay -- Political Science 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 everygov ernment 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(actually just a tape recording of res ponses) 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, 2002. 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.