Mellan mod och tystnad: Om konformitet och lydnad mot auktoritet, och gruppens påverkan på avvikande åsikter i arbetslivet
2025 (Swedish)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Obedience and conformity are central concepts in social psychology, long examined in relation to group dynamics and authority. This study investigates how obedience and conformity against authority in workplace group settings influence individuals’ willingness to voice dissenting opinions in the presence of authority. The guiding research question is: How do conformity and obedience, individually or in interaction, influence individuals’ propensity to refrain from expressing dissenting opinions in workplace group contexts when faced with authority figures? Semi-structured interviews, conducted both online and in person, were guided by the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). Ten participants (eight women and two men), employed in organizations with at least ten staff members, provided accounts of 25 incidents, which were categorized into Loyalty, Sexual harassment, Disagreements, Power, and Values. The findings indicate that conformity pressures, hierarchical structures, and the presence of authority significantly influence whether individuals remain silent or express divergent views. Respondents often described remaining silent as a consequence of strong conformity and dependency pressures, though personal values, loyalty, and professional conviction occasionally motivated resistance, even at the risk of conflict or negative consequences.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 30
Keywords [en]
Workplace culture, authority, dissenting opinions, group context, conformity and obedience.
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-59303OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-59303DiVA, id: diva2:2039724
Subject / course
Psychology
Supervisors
2026-02-202026-02-182026-02-20Bibliographically approved