The Importance of Challenging Authority

From childhood, many of us are taught that being “good” means being obedient, and that we should follow instructions from parents, teachers, and authority figures. However, this guidance can make it extremely difficult to speak up when we know something is wrong. How can we learn to overcome these instincts when it really matters?

Understanding Obedience and Challenge

Professor Sunita Sah, a professor at Cornell University and author of “The Challenge: The Power of Saying No in a World That Demands Yes,” believes we all need to be more challenging. Sah has studied how obedience can lead to poor decision-making, drawing on Stanley Milgram’s famous experiments on obedience to authority.

Milgram’s experiments aimed to investigate whether the Nazi defense of “just following orders” was a psychological reality. The results showed that many people would obey authority orders even when committing harmful acts.

Psychological Reasons for Obedience

Sah explains that there are three main reasons why it is difficult for people to challenge when necessary. First, the immense social pressure to conform. Second, a misunderstanding of what obedience and challenge mean. Lastly, not knowing how to challenge due to being trained to obey from a young age.

One psychological factor Sah highlights is “hint anxiety,” a type of anxiety we feel when we fear that refusing an order or suggestion might imply distrust in others.

How to Overcome the Instinct to Obey

Sah suggests that the first step to overcoming these instincts is to change our mindset about challenges. Unlike the traditional view that sees it as negative, Sah views challenging as acting according to one’s true values, especially when there is pressure to do otherwise.

She recommends starting by practicing challenges in small matters, like correcting a wrong coffee order or expressing a preference against changing a hairstyle.

The Role of Parents in Teaching Challenge

Sah emphasizes the importance of parents being role models in challenging authority. Parents can teach their children how to challenge by conducting exercises around family values and discussing how to ethically handle different situations.

Sah believes that teaching children to challenge can contribute to building a more aware and capable society in facing injustice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, challenging is a necessary skill in a world that demands obedience. By changing our understanding of challenge and practicing it in daily life, we can improve our ability to act according to our true values and help create a more just and aware society.