PYC4803 Assignment 2
2024 (785738) - DUE
26 July 2024
[Company address]
, 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
One notable example of destructive obedience in recent history is the abuse of
prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by U.S. military personnel. Between late
2003 and early 2004, U.S. soldiers subjected Iraqi detainees to severe
mistreatment, including physical and sexual abuse, torture, and even murder.
Photographs of the abuse were leaked to the media, causing a global outcry and
significant damage to the reputation of the U.S. military and its operations in Iraq.
Underlying Reasons for Compliance
1. Authority and Obedience
• Hierarchy and Authority: The military is a highly structured and
hierarchical organization where orders from superiors are expected to be
followed without question. Soldiers are trained to obey commands from
those above them in the chain of command.
• Perceived Legitimacy: The orders to use harsh interrogation techniques
came from higher-ups in the military and intelligence communities, which
gave them an air of legitimacy. Soldiers might have believed that these
orders were legally and morally justified, even if they involved
mistreatment.
2. Socialization and Training
• Military Socialization: Military training often emphasizes the importance
of unit cohesion and following orders, sometimes at the expense of personal
moral judgment. This socialization process can desensitize individuals to
violence and instill a sense of duty to comply with orders.
• Desensitization: Continuous exposure to violence and stressful combat
situations can desensitize soldiers to the suffering of others, making them
more likely to comply with orders that involve harm.
3. Situational Factors
2024 (785738) - DUE
26 July 2024
[Company address]
, 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
One notable example of destructive obedience in recent history is the abuse of
prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by U.S. military personnel. Between late
2003 and early 2004, U.S. soldiers subjected Iraqi detainees to severe
mistreatment, including physical and sexual abuse, torture, and even murder.
Photographs of the abuse were leaked to the media, causing a global outcry and
significant damage to the reputation of the U.S. military and its operations in Iraq.
Underlying Reasons for Compliance
1. Authority and Obedience
• Hierarchy and Authority: The military is a highly structured and
hierarchical organization where orders from superiors are expected to be
followed without question. Soldiers are trained to obey commands from
those above them in the chain of command.
• Perceived Legitimacy: The orders to use harsh interrogation techniques
came from higher-ups in the military and intelligence communities, which
gave them an air of legitimacy. Soldiers might have believed that these
orders were legally and morally justified, even if they involved
mistreatment.
2. Socialization and Training
• Military Socialization: Military training often emphasizes the importance
of unit cohesion and following orders, sometimes at the expense of personal
moral judgment. This socialization process can desensitize individuals to
violence and instill a sense of duty to comply with orders.
• Desensitization: Continuous exposure to violence and stressful combat
situations can desensitize soldiers to the suffering of others, making them
more likely to comply with orders that involve harm.
3. Situational Factors
