Additional Readings for Obedience to Authority

ENGL 102
Writing and Research
Home Page >> Additional Readings >> Obedience to Authority

An Analysis of the TV Kids' Show Barney: This is actually a version of the original, as the original website sometimes is blocked from school servers. This is an interesting connection to David Brooks' essay. I've included a link to the original page in the version I've put up here.
Groupthink and the Intelligence Community: Malcolm Gladwell (a very good writer on groupthink) writes about how groupthink affects the intelligence community (FBI, CIA, etc.) He references a very interesting experiment near the end that I've otherwise not been aware of concerning the power of the situation to control our perceptions.




Millenials Rising - about them -- Questions/Answers -- Predictions: These two webpages discuss the new generation of college students and how they deal with culture and society. the most interesting points have to do with their (your) views on group activity, community and obedience to authority.
Stanford Prison Experiment: This is the official website of the Stanford Prison Experiment, and includes many interesting links. Click on the "Related Links" button to get to the truly relevant material, including one essay written by a participant many years later about what he learned/gained from the experiment.
BBC denies aborting "prison" reality show
Concerns force edit of reality show: Both of these articles are about a new "reality" TV show set to debut in Britain in May based on the Stanford Prison Experiment. The first article denies there were problems but confirms that they had to quit the experiment/show early (just like the original). The second article talks about how the people in the show/experiment demanded edits because they didn't like how they were portrayed (by themselves!!). Both of these are short articles, and took a long time to load on my computer, but this is interesting stuff to me.
Information on new "Blue Eyed" video with Jane Elliott
"Blue Eyed" transcript
Facilitator's guide to Jane Elliott video: These links are to a newer (1999) video about Jane Elliott's blue eye/brown eye training. This particular video goes into a lot more detail about the origins and long-term effects of the exercise. Jane Elliott herself also explains her methodology and intentions more. Remember that for THIS class, we aren't interested in what this experiment says about race/prejudice/diversity, we are concerned about how the experiment uses authority and creates obedience.
The Eyes of Jane Elliott: This is an article from Horizon magazine that discusses Jane Elliott's experiment.
In Praise of Jane Elliott: The Value of First Hand Experience for Learning: This is a student paper about what Jane Elliott's experiment taught her.
Why do people let groups influence them so dramatically?: This essay talks about Heaven's Gate and how the members were influenced by groupthink
Beyond Conformity and Group-Think: This essay is about how men's groups and the men's movement use groupthink to change men's views. However, what it is saying is true of almost any group that attempts to change or control a member's thinking or actions.; This essay uses vulgarity and frank sexual language. Do not go to it if you will be offended.
Inequality, Power, and Development Excerpt: This is an excerpt from a book written by a sociologist. It is written in academic style, so it can be dense prose at times. However, it does an excellent job of explaining the sociological view of power and authority.
Gangs in 20th Century Society: This is a paper written by a University of Maine behavioral science student. It relates gang life and culture to the concepts of groupthink and peer pressure, and deals with the need to be obedient to the authority of the group.
You're in the Army -- Again: This essay is from a 1949 issue of The Atlantic Monthly concerning changes in the Army at that time. The article talks about the necessity for obedience and proper training in the military.
The Civilianization of the Army: This essay is from a 1981 issue of The Atlantic Monthly and deals with the shift to an all-volunteer army and the changes that shift has made in the military. One of the issues addressed is the issue of how to get proper obedience from people who have volunteered and have the ability to quit. Not as good as the 1949 article, but helpful.
Hard Work High Expectations: Motivating Students to Learn: This essay is a report from a conference sponsored by the Department concerning the use and need for increased student accomplishment. Most of this report does not fit this subject, but several sections deal with the issue of peer pressure and support and how it affects student performance. Depending on where you go with your paper, this could be helpful.
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: Thoreau's famous declaration of the necessity to stand apart from the crowd and acheive individuality. This is a rather large download ( 11 pages on my printer), but if you aren't familiar with Thoreau's views, it is well worth your time.Nobody is required to read or use this text, however.