Authority is really important in how people behave in groups. When there’s a person in charge, like a teacher or a manager, people tend to follow their instructions, even if they don’t agree with them.

Examples of Authority in Action:

1. Milgram's Experiment: In this famous study, people were told to give stronger and stronger electric shocks to a learner (who was actually an actor playing a role). The results were surprising—over 60% of the people continued to give shocks all the way to the highest level just because a person in charge told them to. This showed that having authority can lead people to do things they normally wouldn't do.

2. Asch's Conformity Experiments: Although this study wasn’t just about authority, it showed how people often go along with the group to avoid standing out. In these experiments, people sometimes agreed with wrong answers given by others. This showed that when a group is present, it can strongly affect how someone behaves, especially when one person seems to be in charge.

Key Takeaways:

• Compliance: People often listen to authority figures, which can lead to following orders without thinking.
• Ethics: This brings up important questions about how far someone should go in following authority, especially when it might cause harm.

In short, authority really influences how groups work. It drives people to conform and obey, showing just how strong the impact of being in a social hierarchy can be on individual actions.