The warden is not in the death chamber just to wish the condemned a farewell.
But it is complex, as Guru states.
Alex is most likely to obey an authority
figure's command to hurt someone if:
A.He is the only one available to carry
out the order.
B.The authority figure is nearby,
observing Alex's response.
C.The victim is in the same room
with Alex.
D.Alex and the authority figure are of
similar status in the group.
Which would be correct? I am thinking
the answer is B.
Probably B. However, there would be a huge number of other psychological, educational, ethical influences at work to determine how this question would be answered. Whew! that is a very complex question.
Years ago a professor conducted an experiment to see if normal young adults could be ordered to give electric shocks to another person. The findings, as reported in this article, is that a nearby authority figure who orders this treatment, had a lot of influence. B seems to be the best answer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
Here is a study done with pharmacy students:
http://jme.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/30/3/293
To determine the most likely answer to the question, we will analyze the provided options and see which one aligns with the influence of authority figure on a person's obedience to hurt someone:
A. He is the only one available to carry out the order.
This option suggests that if Alex is the only person who can carry out the order, he is more likely to obey the authority figure's command. While this could be a factor, it does not directly address the influence of the authority figure on Alex's obedience.
B. The authority figure is nearby, observing Alex's response.
This option suggests that if the authority figure is present and observing Alex's response, he is more likely to obey the command. This aligns with the idea that the proximity and monitoring of the authority figure can influence obedience. Therefore, B could be a correct answer.
C. The victim is in the same room with Alex.
This option suggests that if the victim is present in the same room as Alex, he is more likely to obey the command. While the presence of the victim could be a factor, it does not specifically address the influence of the authority figure.
D. Alex and the authority figure are of similar status in the group.
This option suggests that if Alex and the authority figure have similar status within the group, he is more likely to obey the command. While group dynamics can influence obedience, this option does not specifically focus on the authority figure's influence.
Based on the analysis, B seems to be the best answer as it directly addresses the influence of the authority figure being nearby and observing Alex's response. However, it is important to note that this is a complex topic influenced by various factors, as mentioned in the provided resources about the Milgram experiment and the study with pharmacy students.