Allen Funt, the creator and producer of original TV program Candid Camera, spends as much time observing human behavior in the real world as most psychologists do. When asked what he has learned from his people watching, he replied, “ the worst thing, and I see it over and over, is how easily people can be led by any kind of authority figure, or even the most minimal signs of authority” (Zimbardo, 1985; p.47).
Funt is right bout the way people react to authority. Taught from birth that its important to respect legitimate forms of leadership, people think twice before defying parents, teachers, employers, coaches, and government officials. In fact, children seem to understand at a young age that certain authority figures have power in some domains but not others (Laupa & Turiel, 1993). The problem is the mere symbols of authority- titles, uniforms, badges, or the trappings of success, even without the necessary credential- can sometimes turn ordinary people into docile servants. Leonard Bickman demonstrated this phenomenon in a series of studies in which a male research assistant stopped passers-by on the streets of Brooklyn and ordered them to do something unusual. Sometimes, he pointed to a paper bag on the ground and said “pick up this bag for me!” At other times, he pointed to an individual standing beside a parked car and said, “This fellow is over-parked at the meter but doesn’t have any change. Give him a dime!” (Bickman, 1974) would anyone really take this guy seriously? When he was dresses in street clothes, only a third of the subjects followed his orders. But when he wore a security guard’s uniform, nearly nine out of every ten subjects obeyed! Even when the uniformed assistant turned the corner and walked away after issuing his command, the vast.........
