The Power of Authority Bias: Why We Trust Experts Without Questioning

The Bible explains that when we disobey a great authority we get ejected from paradise. There is a deep-rooted sense of duty to authority within all of us. It is known as obedience to authority. Our extreme willingness to go to almost any lengths on the command of an authority.

Our obedience is not only to the Bible but authorities like political pundits, scientists, doctors, internet influencers, consultants, doctors, economists, CEOs, & several other authority figures.

Information from a recognized authority can provide us with a valuable shortcut for deciding how to act in a situation. The most dangerous part is that it doesn’t matter to us whether the order to comply comes from a person of real authority or not.

Once we realize that obedience to authority is rewarding as people in superior positions mostly know more than we do, and taking their advice is beneficial and it makes sense to comply with well-constituted authorities. We allow ourselves the convenience of automatic obedience.

However, the problems come when we start blindly following a certain authority without questioning their choices, actions, perspectives, and opinions. In situations where people's lives are at stack this blind obedience can result in disastrous outcomes.

Advertisers and marketers sometimes use the influence of authority principle without ever providing real authority. The appearance of authority is enough. We are just as vulnerable to authority symbols as we are to the actual substance.

There are several kinds of symbols that can reliably trigger our compliance in the absence of genuine substance of authority. They are used by those compliance professionals who are short on substance, con artists drape themselves with titles, clothes & trappings of authority.

Certain compliance individuals lie about titles they don't truly have. This is both the easiest and most difficult symbol to acquire. Although con artists fake it like anything else. Another authority symbol is clothing. People may believe someone wearing a uniform has authority.

The third symbol is similar in that it makes use of "trappings" such as expensive jewelry, luxury brands, and cars. According to Cialdini, people, attribute authority to those who own expensive items. The absence of real authority can cause the same obedience as the real one.

How to Say No: Awareness of these factors can help us combat fake authority and question it at the right time. The trick is to recognize when authority followings should be followed or ignored. Ask yourself "Is this authority truly an expert?" check relevant facts and titles.