Final answer:
In research on obedience to authority, the presence of resistive individuals and factors that humanize the victim or lessen the authority's power reduced obedience. Asch's conformity study also indicated that social support and unassertive environments help resist conformity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Reducing Obedience to Authority Figures
In Stanley Milgram's research on obedience to authority figures, several factors were found to reduce the likelihood of obedience among research subjects. Notably, presence of a few individuals showing resistance was one crucial factor that helped reduce obedience. When either the perceived authority of the experimenter was lessened, such as when orders were given by phone, or the humanity of the person being shocked was amplified, for example, when teachers and learners were in the same room or touching, obedience decreased. In Asch's study on conformity, resistances to conforming were aided by having an ally, the ability to keep one's answers private, and not facing a large group. These factor show that social support and less authoritative environments can significantly impact the responses of individuals within an experimental setting.
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