Conscience vs Obedience, Responsibility vs Authority: a Measure of the Humanoid Potential Trouble Source Horrors, 4
Last but not least, and rather to cap it all, on the “authority” side the test subject compliance increased and decreased proportionally to two factors: not only the “closeness” of the authority, but his “perceived legitimacy” as well. If the in−charge demanded through a phone the subject to continue with the shocks, the compliance percentage dropped to 21 percent, so much for the closeness. But if the in−charge took off the white coat, the compliance percentage dropped, too. Which speak volumes as to the seriousness of our judging the book by the cover.
Finally, the series of experiments as a whole disclosed two further meaningful facets: the uniformity of behaviour in space and time, and the depth of the overawe to authority regardless. Repetitions of the experiment in different locations and different circumstances produced similar results; same for time, as later repetitions produced similar results as well: so much for the influence of cultures and their evolutions on this humanoid trait. As to overawe, what happened is that even those refusing to impart the highest shocks did not have the freedom and courage to go the extra mile: the experiments’ notes report that neither they insisted that an end be put to the experiment itself, nor left the room to check the health of the victim without requesting permission to leave… so much to what it really takes to realize one is free and no less than the “authority”.
It’s worth delving a bit deeper into this facet: authority and responsibility. Authority: who is acknowledged the right to decide and command? Responsibility: who is accountable for the decisions and ensuing actions? Up to now they seem to be the two facets of the same medal: one accounts for one’s own decisions and actions. Letting aside for now that suppressives and crooks quest for authority without responsibility, now place two of these medals – someone else’s and one’s own – side by side, and they become the two pans of the same scale: the more of someone else’s, the less of one’s own – and the other way round. The more authority you grant to someone else, the less you hold yourself responsible. The more authority you grant to yourself, the more you hold yourself responsible. And so on with all combinations.
