Support for resistance contributes largely as a factor resistance rates. It has been shown from Gamson’s experiment in 1982 which was set out to study obedience in a natural situation, but ended up finding that most of his P’s rebelled. There are a number of reasons for this rebellion to take place, one of which being that P’s are able to discuss what is taking place in their surroundings without the presence of researchers to pressurise them in any kind of way. This enables a group norm of rebellion to arise. From this experiment we can see that it is much easier for people to rebel without the presence of researchers and with the support of each other, resistance to the orders are much more easily pursued. It has also been proved that it may be difficult to confront authority alone, however the presence of other rebels may help the person to see resistance as genuine and formulate strategies for disobedient behaviour. This was carried forward in Milgram’s experiment when two fake teachers expressed doubts and refuse to continue, almost all of the actual P’s withdrew their collaboration and only 4 out of 40 proceeded to 450 volts.
The Gamson experiment provides a distinct contrast with Milgram’s, as in 29 out of the 33 groups there was a thriving resistance to unjust authority. The reasons for this occurrence are due a number of factors. One of which would be that there was one member of each group that spontaneously rebelled and this minority opinion influenced the majority of the groups to sway on a final judgment. A status of authority may also have a large impact on this experiment as it may be seen that the experimenter in Milgram’s had a higher figure of authority than the person in charge of Gamson’s experiment. This can explain a much higher rebel percentage in Gamson’s experiment.
The time in which this experiment took place in America, was when American’s had come to be more challenging of authority. It
is possible that this could have changed the behaviour of the P’s.
It has been found that some countries also appear to be more obedient than others e.g. America and Germany. Although the Australians and the British can be seen to be less obedient.
Within Gamson’s study, it was reported that many of the P’s felt anxious and stressed. One person said that the experiment was “ the most stressful experience I’ve had in the past year”. The researchers stopped the experiment before they intended to, as they were hoping to do a total of 80 groups but this had to be abandoned after 33 due to the levels of stress that arose.
Individual factors that contribute to resistance are things such as a P’s significant experience or special expertise to a situation of a similar state.
A P’s occupation can also be linked with this as a person of a higher status job would be likely to be more rebellious than a person of a lower status. Educated P’s are usually less obedient than those who are not. Students are also more obedient than the general population. A strong sense of moral responsibility will cause a different reaction e.g. the minister of religion in Milgram’s experiment. A much more confidant P would more easily stand against authority or would be used to being in a position of power. These individual factors have been recognized from transcripts of interviews with Milgrams P’s and from cross-cultural replications.
In conclusion, with support, confidence, experience, expertise and other varying aspects that reduce an amount of applied pressure to an individual, a change in behaviour can be noticed when under strain from a figure of authority. Having a clear sense of ones own moral values and ones rights, can contribute to helping P’s resist to obedience.
