Draft:Anticipatory obedience
Anticipatory obedience is the act of preemptively conforming to what is expected by an authority figure, often without explicit orders. This behavior of self-censorship has been historically significant, particularly in authoritarian regimes, where it has facilitated the swift implementation of policies and actions that might otherwise face resistance.
Yale Law professor and historian Timothy Snyder has described the dangers of this behavior as: "individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do."[1][2]
Historical context
[edit]The concept of anticipatory obedience is particularly noted in the context of Nazi Germany. In early 1938, as Adolf Hitler prepared to annex Austria, the anticipatory obedience of many Austrians played a critical role in the persecution of Austrian Jews. Without explicit orders, local Austrians and Nazis began to enforce anti-Semitic policies, such as forcing Jews to scrub streets clean of symbols of independent Austria. This preemptive action by ordinary citizens and local officials taught Nazi leaders that the public would comply with extreme measures, leading to further atrocities like the November 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom in Germany.[3][4]
Psychological insights
[edit]Anticipatory obedience is related to broader psychological principles of obedience to authority, as explored in Stanley Milgram's famous experiments in the 1960s. These experiments demonstrated that individuals are often willing to harm others if they believe they follow orders from an authority figure. Anticipatory obedience can be seen as an extension of this principle, where individuals or groups align their actions with what they anticipate an authority desires, often exacerbating the potential for harm.[1][5]
Modern applications
[edit]Beyond historical examples, anticipatory obedience is also observed in modern corporate and organizational settings. Employees may conform to the perceived expectations of their superiors without explicit directives, which can stifle innovation and reinforce existing power structures. This behavior, while sometimes intended to avoid conflict or preempt negative outcomes, can lead to a culture of compliance that limits the potential for change and progress.[6]
See Also
[edit]- Milgram experiment
- Stanley Milgram
- Totalitarianism
- Spiral of silence
- Social-desirability bias
- Chilling effect
- False consensus effect
References
[edit]- ^ a b Snyder, Timothy (2017). On tyranny: twenty lessons from the twentieth century (37th printing ed.). New York: Crown. ISBN 978-0-8041-9011-4.
- ^ Terry, Simon (2019-09-23). "Anticipatory obedience". Simon Terry. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ Snyder, Timothy (April 28, 2017). "Resist Authoritarianism by Refusing to Obey in Advance". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "Anticipatory Obedience – How to Heal Our Divides". How to Heal Our Divides. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "Resist Authoritarianism by Refusing to Obey in Advance". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "Anticipatory obedience". Simon Terry. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
External links
[edit]- Smithsonian Institution Learning Lab - Anticipatory Obedience