Introduction
Obedience is the act of complying with an order or being submissive to authority. It is a form of social influence in which individuals act as the authority of another figure they feel is superior or in charge. In their actions, the individual ensures that they please the person in authority. It involves altering one’s behavior towards the authority figure’s request or what would please this authority figure. Without authority in place, the individual might have acted differently. This paper discusses my personal experience in obedience to authority in my family as the youngest.
Individuals tend to try to please those in authority. Psychological evidence proves that people give respect and follow orders from those they view to legitimately hold control. For instance, in a family setup, children feel obliged to obey their parents, who legitimately hold the authority. They also feel the obligation to follow their older siblings and submit to their requests. In my family experience, I have had my share of authority. I have two parents who want the best for me in life. Being the youngest of three siblings, my parents have high expectations of me.
My parents strive to offer good education towards an excellent career. Their expectations are me having a successful career and surpassing the achievements of my older siblings. Despite having other dreams and personal goals, I feel obliged to obey and give in to their demands, despite them not being what I fully want. I could wish to take a different path and pursue something different, but I need to obey my parents. The push that I’m obliged to them pushes me to give in to their demands. They are in authority, and they want the best for me. Therefore, I feel the push to follow in obedience.
At times I may feel the need to go out at night, have fun with my friends and break a few rules. My parents’ expectations are good morals, not staying out late, being a good child, and concentrating on my studies. Breaking any of these would not be pleasing to them, considering their expectations of me. I feel the obligation to be good for their sake despite the urge to break the rules. I would act differently in their absence, but because they are in authority, I feel the need to obey. I would want to skip school and stay home among other things. The thought of what my parents expect from me push me to attending school despite my wish to skip school.
My parents make specific requests, demands, and even give orders. Not all of them are pleasing but being the youngest, I feel obliged to obeying. It feels that they are superior and in authority, followed by my siblings, and therefore I should obey. My parents are in charge of the family; they are the home providers and owners, which makes them superior and in control. Their influence pushes me to perform under their authority.
Conclusion
Obedience is a social influence that pushes towards following orders from those legitimately holding authorities. My parents legitimately have the family’s authority, and therefore this pushes towards obeying and fulfilling their expectations. There is the need to alter my desired behavior and act in their preferred way to please them to get a reward and avoid negative consequences that would come with disobeying.

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