(Dis)obedience in U.S. American young adults: A new way to describe authority relationships

Abstract

The present research aims to investigate the psychosocial phenomena of obedience and disobedience in young adults residing in the United States, as a replication of a previous study by Pozzi, Fattori, Bocchiaro, and Alfieri (2014). We utilize social representation theory as a means to better understand and define (dis)obedience, a behavioral dimension of the concept of authority. The analysis was conducted using a concurrent mixed methods design. One hundred and fifty-one participants completed a self-report online questionnaire. The results indicate that participants see both obedience and disobedience as related to an authority. Obedience was mostly perceived as an ability to be responsive to laws, social norms, or physical authorities, as well as a positive social object. Disobedience, instead, was defined as a failure of a negative line of conduct. These results differ from previous research, contributing meaningfully and pragmatically to the theoretical debate on (dis)obedience. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Social Representation of Family: A Comparative Study on Italian Young and Older Adults

“…Data analysis. Using a convergent parallel mixed-method design (Pozzi et al, 2018), data were analyzed. First, a qualitative analysis enabled us to reconstruct the content of the SR; then a mixed-method analysis allowed us to study its representational structure.…”

“…The inter-rater reliability was good (Cohen's K = 85%) (Cohen, 1960); cases of disagreement were considered and discussed until consensus was reached. In order to increase the dependability of the analysis, the process was supervised, at regular intervals, by a content analysis expert auditor (Gelo et al, 2016;Pozzi et al, 2014Pozzi et al, , 2018.…”

“…The CNT assumes that SRs consist of both a content and a structure: the content reflects information, opinions, and explicative models that a group shares about a specific social object, while the structure consists of organizing the meanings attributed to that same object. Therefore, in order to get a complete understanding of an SR, it is necessary to study both its content and structure (Aresi et al, 2018;Pozzi et al, 2018). Abric (1989), in accordance with Moscovici (1976), argues that not all social objects can become objects of SR.…”

Promoting or opposing social change: Political orientations, moral convictions and protest intentions

“…citizens and authorities to follow and enforce those policies that reflect the fundamental and universal values of a just and fair society i (Fattori et al, 2015;Morselli & Passini, 2012Pozzi, Quartiroli, Alfieri, Fattori, & Pistoni, 2018).…”

“…Finally, value-oriented citizens tend to be active in formulating, evaluating and questioning national policies. They expect both citizens and authorities to follow and enforce those policies that reflect the fundamental and universal values of a just and fair society i ( Fattori et al, 2015 ; Morselli & Passini, 2012 , 2015 ; Passini & Morselli, 2010 ; Pozzi, Quartiroli, Alfieri, Fattori, & Pistoni, 2018 ).…”