APPEAL TO AUTHORITY FALLACY (HINDI): Why we follow authority? Milgram experiment. How to think smart

This episode discusses appeal to authority, why we follow authority, Milgram experiment, how can we think smarter in the face of authority and how can we use authority effect to persuade, convince and influence others.
We have a very strong tendency to follow authority. We see a similar behaviour in animals too - who learn basic survival skills through copying and following authority. A monkey or a deer who defies authority or does not follow authority would die. This behaviour seems hardwired through the animals and over the long millions of years of organic evolution, deferring to authority seems to be a strongly ingrained feature of our behaviour too.
In 1961, Stanley Milgram conducted a very famous experiment in Yale University known as Milgram Experiments which show that under the influence of authority, people are ready to do things they would not do otherwise, even at the cost of extreme psychological distress to themselves. 65% of the people in the test group in Milgram experiments gave 450 volts of electric shock to their 'students' while all 100% gave 300 volts of electric shock to their 'students'. This, while initially, Yale University psychologists predicted that hardly 2-3% people would go upto 450 volts.
Milgram experiments show that authority effect has a very strong impact on our behaviour. We seem to have inherited a strong tendency to follow authority and do as they direct.
Appeal to authority is massively used in advertising and propaganda. Filmstars sell everything from underwear to hair oil. Religious priests tell us everything - from what to do to how to conduct our relationships to whom to vote for.
Anything said or suggested should be evaluated based on its own merit and not on who is saying it or if an authority figure is asking us to do it.
As a sales tool, influencing tool, appeal to authority is extremely effective. Robert Cialdini in his seminal book Influence talks about authority effect as one of the six means of influencing others.

Prashant Yadav is an author and an entrepreneur. A 3rd Dan Black Belt in Shito Ryu karate, he shares his life learnings, struggles and insights on this channel.

We will be posting thinking skills videos, motivational speeches, discussions about important questions of modern life like decision career, relationships, fitness, mental health, stress, depression, peer pressure on this channel. We will also be discussing your questions and emails regarding everyday problems you face in your career choices, love life, family life, physical and mental health.

Book: https://www.amazon.in/Jeera-Packer-Pr...
Facebook:   / prashant.yadav  
Twitter:   / pr_ashantyadav  
Instagram:   / authorprash.  .
Blog: http://www.yadavprashant.com