What does Authority Really Mean?

dave · 05-05-2010, 09:47 AM

When people talk of authority, they think that you mean "he's the authority in that area" but there is another side to this as well..

Believe it or not, when you read the chapter named 'Authority' in Robert Cialdini's book called "Influence" he talks about this study, where two volunteers were randomly chosen from a cross-section of the population via a newspaper advertisement.

They had to draw straws to see who became 'The Teacher' and who became 'The Learner'.

The Teacher's job was to administer electric shocks in increasing intensity if The Learner got the wrong answer. The only communication between the two was an intercom. The questions were a hit-and miss affair, but as time went on, the Learner would become more and more unable to answer them because of the shocks.

The surprising fact is that The Teacher would continue all the way up to 400 volts until The Learner was unconscious - this was not due to the fact that The Teacher was psychotic, far from the truth, but the real fact was that they were just following orders.

Only around 1% or so of people stopped when The Learner begged to stop, but thankfully, the test replaced The Learner with someone who was an actor and pretended to get the shocks.

So the lesson here is that most people will do what you tell them to do, are you telling them to do what you want them to do?

Leave a comment below with your thoughts...
Leave a comment below with your thoughts...
Leave a comment below with your thoughts...

Jim Gillum · 05-10-2010, 04:49 AM

Absolutely......many times in a subtle manner...

For instance...wait til you touch your mouse to respond....

dave · 05-17-2010, 11:19 AM

Another one i saw is the mouse pointer superimposed onto the sign up button, subliminal or what!?

jeanttt · 06-22-2010, 02:51 AM

Quite Interesting

jamespa · 09-22-2010, 11:45 AM

very informative and interesting too..

JohnnySaur · 10-12-2010, 06:52 AM

People will obey you if can control them or have the authority to you such as boss-employee position.

nikjerry12 · 10-18-2010, 10:58 AM

I have read this all of the stuff and would like to say you that I found it interesting that dramatist and instigator were two definitions of the word author. That sounds like some people I know who throw around the word "Authority" like it is supposed to mean something to me coming out of their mouths.

adamsherman · 11-09-2010, 10:59 AM

Authority is very important in selling process because like to buy from people who know what they are doing, don't we? if I have a problem with my knee, i don't want to see a general practitioner, i want to see a knee specialist.

but in this same time person who is authority for us must show respect to us.

alicejetta · 03-14-2011, 04:55 PM

In fact, you are mentioned the way the site is really like BBC and CNN. This is really about trust in your own common sense can really guide you. Measure the number of sites will link to them. Not just a page, but in the entire site.

ellida300 · 04-27-2011, 11:07 AM

I really like this comment. 'The Teacher' and who became 'The Learner. I assume the real Authority presents a very optimistic and clear charisma for people.