To defy or not to defy: An experimental study of the dynamics of disobedience and whistle-blowing

Abstract

This study introduces a new paradigm for investigating the dynamic processes of disobedience between individuals and unjust authority. Our experimental setting allowed participants (n = 149) to deal with an unethical request by the experimenter with options of (dis)obeying or “blowing the whistle”. Results revealed that the majority (77%) complied while the minority was split between those refusing (14%) and those reporting the misconduct to higher authorities (9%). No significant differences were found in personal characteristics and dispositional variables distinguishing between obedient, disobedient, and whistleblower participants. An independent sample (n = 138), when asked to predict their behavior, gave exactly the opposite reaction to our experimental participants: Only 4% believed they would obey that authority.

Keywords:

• Whistle-blowing
• Defiance
• Obedience
• Disobedience
• Unjust authority

Notes

¹A total of 11 participants were removed from the initial sample of 160 because of their suspiciousness about the nature of the study.

²Even though the heart of the study was supposedly the sensory deprivation experience itself, logically the message-writing request would also need ethical approval. However, this is part of the ambiguity that we created to see if the participants would question anything in this dubious introduction.

³ Here is what the Research Committee form looked like: The Free University aims to promote excellent and ethical research. All research should strive to minimize the risk to participants, so that they will not be exposed to any more risk that they would encounter in their usual lifestyle. More in detail: • Participants should be protected from psychological harm (anxiety, stress, embarrassment, humiliation); • Researchers should inform participants if they see signs of psychological problem that these latter are unaware of. If you think that the research on sensory deprivation violates the above-mentioned basic ethical norms please report this to the Human Ethics Committee by checking the box below and putting this document in the mailbox. Thanks for your valuable cooperation.