In what context is obedience defined in social psychology?

• A. Compliance with advice from friends
• B. Following the commands of authority figures
• C. Respecting personal boundaries of individuals
• D. Agreeing with every suggestion made by peers

Answer: (B)

Obedience in social psychology specifically refers to the act of following the commands or directives given by an authority figure. This concept is famously illustrated by the Milgram experiment, where individuals were willing to administer what they believed to be harmful electric shocks to others simply because an authority figure instructed them to do so. The essential feature of obedience is that it involves a hierarchical relationship, where one party exerts influence over another due to their perceived authority.

In contrast, the other options involve different social dynamics such as peer influence and interpersonal respect, which do not fit the formal definition of obedience. Compliance with friends involves social pressure among equals, while respecting personal boundaries pertains to the recognition of individual rights and privacy, and agreeing with peers does not necessarily involve a power differential typical of obedience scenarios. Therefore, the context that properly encapsulates the meaning of obedience in social psychology is the act of following orders from authority figures.