The psychology of evil

social influence is important for our society, and therefore is beneficial when used effectively. Discuss the way conformity, compliance and obedience are necessary parts of our culture, which enables our society to function properly and orderly. Why do we need social Influence? How can people become heroes in regards to social influence?

How does social influence play a role in real world tragedies? Explain how conformity, compliance and obedience can lead to blind obedience and disastrous outcomes. Discuss the Milgram experiment and the Stanford prison experiment and how these experiments were created due to questions about the Holocaust in regards to blind obedience, conformity and compliance. Discuss real world events such as cults, strip search hoaxes, Ponzi schemes, etc. and how blind conformity and obedience had led to tragedies.

Describe how social influence is used in the workplace, and distinguish the differences between the benefits of employees and organizations complying, obeying, and conforming, but also what are some of the consequences we have seen in places of employment when people tend to follow others, or follow orders blindly. Are employees more successful in the workplace when they are conforming, complying and obeying? What does the research show about the benefits of employees and organizations following regulations, safety policies, federal and state laws, etc.?

What types of organizations have a structure that emphasizes conformity, obedience and compliance, and that emphasizes its employees or members to follow the hierarchy chain? Organizations such as, the military, religious organizations, police and fire departments, SWAT teams, hospital personnel, etc. have rules and regulations that demand that people blindly follow their superiors or the doctrines and structure of the organization, so what are the advantages and disadvantages for blindly obeying and complying? Discuss the Milgram experiment and the Stanford prison experiment.

Why do people conform to perceived norms? What is normative influence, informational influence and descriptive norms, and how do they all play a role in people changing their attitudes and behaviors to conform to norms? What is the Asch experiment and what do the results of the Asch experiment show about conformity in the real world? What are examples in the world around us, of how people use normative influence, informational influence and descriptive norms to influence the way we behave?