Me: My lower back hurts.
Doctor: You need a MRI for that lower back pain.
Me: OK
How often do I just blindly obey doctors, policemen and other authority figures? Pretty much all the time (except when I was a teenager but I grew out of it). It is so natural for most people to willingly go along with an authority figure (See Milgrim's famous experiment) that it is the Part 5 in this 6 part series on persuasion.
Basic Premise
- Adults are extremely willing to to follow the commands of an authority figure. This is so for a couple of reasons:
- We are taught from when we are young that obedience = good behavior.
- Mindless obedience is a decision making shortcut
- Appearance of authority is usually enough: Titles, Clothing, Belongings, etc.
- Compliance with small favors usually increases susceptibility to incrementally bigger favors.
How People Take Advantage of Authority
- Ever watch commercials where an "expert" comes on to discuss the benefits of the product and to lend "false" credibility. Usually this expert is in a scientist's/doctor's coat.
- Use of authoritative appearance to gain compliance: Uniforms, expensive suits, medals and other status symbol items (expensive cars, watches, jewelry, etc). I guess it really pays to look like a million bucks.
Best Defense
- Ask yourself: Is this person really an expert? Are they honest?
- Ask yourself: How truthful do we expect the expert to be here?
- Separate the symbols of authority and status with the actual evidence of credible authority
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