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Obedience - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Raj Bonsor

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Obedience is when a person follows the orders or rules given by someone who has authority over them, like a teacher or a parent.

In psychology, obedience is studied to understand why people listen to and follow instructions, even if they might feel unsure or uncomfortable about doing so. It shows how authority figures can influence people's actions and decisions. Sometimes, people obey because they trust the authority figure, while other times they might fear consequences if they don't follow the rules.

Obedience is important in society because it helps maintain order, but it's also crucial to think critically about when and why we choose to obey.

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Raj Bonsor

Reviewer: Raj Bonsor

Expertise: Psychology & Sociology Content Creator

Raj joined Save My Exams in 2024 as a Senior Content Creator for Psychology & Sociology. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years in the classroom, teaching hundreds of GCSE and A Level students. She has experience as Subject Leader for Psychology and Sociology, and her favourite topics to teach are research methods (especially inferential statistics!) and attachment. She has also successfully taught a number of Level 3 subjects, including criminology, health & social care, and citizenship.

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