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On the dynamics of disobedience: experimental investigations of defying unjust authority
Authors Bocchiaro P, Zimbardo P
Received 8 March 2017
Accepted for publication 17 June 2017
Published 13 July 2017 Volume 2017:10 Pages 219—229
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S135094
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewers approved by Dr Akshita Wason
Peer reviewer comments 4
Editor who approved publication: Dr Igor Elman
Video abstract presented by Philip Zimbardo.
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Piero Bocchiaro,1 Philip Zimbardo2
1Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
Abstract: Across six Experimental conditions with university student participants (N=600), we examined some of the dynamics underlying expressed defiance to unjust authority. Results revealed disobedience was best enacted by participants low in right-wing authoritarianism and was more likely to occur when: 1) in physical proximity of other rebels, 2) the authority made two demanding requests instead of one, and 3) there had been an earlier opposition to injustice. Results are discussed within the theoretical framework of bounded rationality.
Keywords: defiance, unjust authority, obedience, disobedience
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