Ohio State University's recent findings suggest otherwise. Research led by Associate Professor of Psychology Philip Mazzocco indicates that the majority of us overestimate our ability to resist the pull of authority, even when orders clash with our moral fiber. According to a study published in the Current Psychology journal, individuals tend to believe they'd balk at unethical directions far sooner than the average person—a reflection of the "better-than-average effect."
"Social pressures are way more powerful and impactful than we give them credit for," Mazzocco told Ohio State News. This tendency to think too highly of our moral resilience can be perilous. Ignoring our own susceptibility may leave us ensnared by those with nefarious intentions. The study echoes the chilling lessons from the renowned Milgram experiment, which shone a light on the dark corners of obedience to authority back in the 1960s. The unnerving conclusion: people often obey, even if it means harming another.
In a replication of sorts, more than 400 adults were briefed on the original Milgram study before making predictions about their own behavior and that of others in similar circumstances. The array of choices spanned from an early opt-out after the first shock (dial 1) to total complicity (dial 31). On average, participants imagined themselves dropping out at approximately dial 7, while speculating the average person would push on till about dial 12.
Interestingly, knowing that a whopping 65% of Milgram participants didn't resist until the bitter end affected guesses about others but not about oneself. It seems the better-than-average effect holds strong, impervious to real-world data. "Just reading about a situation is not sufficient, as doing so doesn’t really internalize the point that we're all really susceptible to these pressures," Mazzocco explained via Ohio State News. This resistance to confronting our own vulnerability could spell trouble particularly when our perceived independence from the flock blinds us to the possibility of our own complicity.
Some personality traits, however, may foreshadow how we behave under authority's thumb. Participants with a higher measure of conscientiousness—a disposition marked by responsibility and rule adherence—were more inclined to please the experimenter. Despite these factors though, as Mazzocco reminded us, we cannot all be outliers in the face of social pressure.
To fortify oneself against unwarranted influence, the researchers suggest awareness and preparation. Understanding the elements at play can be crucial, although extracting oneself from the grip of pressure isn't always feasible. Instead, Mazzocco recommends nurturing curiosity to help maintain allegiance to one's own values. In the end, the study serves as a reminder that when it comes to anticipating our reactions to authority, a healthy dose of skepticism about our own strengths might actually be our saving grace.
