Leadership and authority are related, but they are not the same. A person can have authority without truly being a leader, and someone can be a leader without holding formal authority. The ability of people to think for themselves and create leadership and authority are important for society. Find your personal perspective.
People often have a strong tendency to follow others. When this happens too easily, it can create dependent thinking where individuals stop questioning ideas or making their own judgments. A healthy, fully developed person can think independently. They may agree with leaders or authorities most of the time, but not on everything. Instead, they evaluate issues for themselves and form their own conclusions.
Leadership often develops from this kind of independence. People who think critically, weigh information carefully, and trust their own reasoning are better able to guide others and make balanced decisions. Those who are good at talking but dont don't develop an independent sense of self are following the herd no matter how eloquent the speech.
The “Story of the Clan” is used as a philosophical thought experiment to explore these ideas. In the learing allegory, a group of actors targets others with dehumanizing narratives based on race, religion, or other differences. They put children, intellectuals, the sick, elderly and the vulnerable at risk willfully and without regard to greater oaths or societal contracts. Individuals in the group accepted these stories and acted on them without much critical thinking.
As the situation unfolds, responsibility is often shifted onto the victims rather than addressing the wrongdoing. Even those in positions of authority find it easier to blame the victims than to correct the problem, suggesting a deeper issue.
The lesson is that many people simply follow the person above them, around them or within their ideological perspectives, believing it is in their best interest. But this kind of blind obedience can lead to harmful outcomes. It is often how bigotry, extremism, criminal networks, and cults form. Choices can be poorly made when group think takes hold and creates a misalignment between choice and environment.
Developing strong individuals means encouraging people to think independently while still working cooperatively with others. There are times when society must act collectively—for example, protecting constitutional rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech or overcoming a challenge. But there are also times when the group is wrong, and someone must be willing to step outside the crowd.
Those who can question harmful behavior and stand apart when necessary often show a higher level of personal development. However, challenging the group can come with consequences. Sometimes those consequences lessen when others begin to recognize the value of a different perspective and join in supporting it. Or it can be squashed and the problems continue.
Review Milgram Shock Experiment
The Milgram obedience experiment studied how people respond to authority when instructed to harm another person in a research setting.
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Participants believed they were taking part in a study on learning and memory and were instructed to deliver electric shocks to a “learner” whenever incorrect answers were given.
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The shock machine ranged from 15 volts to 450 volts, increasing in 15-volt increments and labeled from slight shock to danger: severe shock.
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About 65% of participants administered the maximum 450-volt shock even though they believed the learner was in serious pain.
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All participants continued to at least 300 volts, despite hearing protests and signs of distress from the learner.
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Many participants showed visible stress such as sweating, trembling, and nervous laughter while continuing to follow instructions.
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The findings suggested that people may obey authority figures even when doing so conflicts with their personal moral beliefs.
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The study raised important ethical concerns and helped lead to stronger research ethics standards, including informed consent and debriefing.
McLeod, S. (2025). Milgram shock experiment. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html
*This is a philosophical theoretical discussion so take with a grain of salt and come to your own conclusion.
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