What you need to know about authority bias

Giving undue weight to the opinions and actions of authority figures affects the choices people make and the way they perceive information in their everyday lives. This is called authority bias.

The Milgram Experiment conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s is a seminal study that brought authority bias into the spotlight. The research revealed that individuals tend to obey authority figures, even when asked to perform actions that contradict their moral beliefs. This experiment underscored the power of authority in shaping behavior and highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of authority bias.

Understanding the potential consequences of unchecked authority bias is crucial for fostering a sense of responsibility in people and encouraging ethical decision-making.

Authority bias is a tendency to attribute greater accuracy and truth to statements and decisions made by authorities or experts, even without substantial evidence supporting their claims. This bias can impact many areas of life, from professional settings to personal relationships.

Characteristics of authority bias

• Unquestioning obedience: individuals may follow an authority figure’s directives without critically evaluating the information.

• Implicit trust: a predisposition to believe information from authoritative sources is more reliable.

• Reduced critical evaluation: the tendency to accept statements from authority figures without questioning or challenging their validity.

Who are authority figures?

• Field experts: individuals with recognized knowledge and experience in a particular domain, such as scientists, doctors, or engineers, are considered authority figures.

• Leaders and managers: people often subscribe to the decisions and directions of those in positions of power within organizations, governments, and communities.

• Educators and teachers: those who hold teaching or instructional roles are often seen as authorities in their respective subjects.

• Celebrities and influencers: public figures can influence public opinion even if they are not experts in a given field.

Authority bias significantly influences decision-making processes by shaping perceptions, attitudes, and choices. It can operate subtly, and people aren’t always aware it affects them.

Decision deference

When people encounter information endorsed by an authority figure, they are more likely to accept it as accurate and base their decisions on it. This bias can lead to unquestioning obedience, affecting the choices people make in their personal and professional lives.

Individuals may defer to the decisions made by authoritative figures without thorough evaluation. They may overlook alternative viewpoints, leading to blind deference and ill-judged choices.

Risk aversion

Individuals may exhibit a higher degree of risk aversion when following an authority figure’s directives. This can impact financial decision-making and organizational strategies, where a reluctance to challenge established authority can hinder innovation and adaptability.

Authority bias often develops through a combination of social, cultural, and psychological factors. The following types of conditioning foster a tendency to automatically defer to authority without question.

Early conditioning

Authority bias often develops during childhood through interactions with parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Children are taught to respect and obey authority, setting the foundation for the bias to continue into adulthood.

Social and cultural factors

Societal norms and cultural influences play a crucial role in reinforcing authority bias. Systems that emphasize hierarchies and the importance of expertise are contributing factors.

Media and information sources

The portrayal of authoritative figures in the media and the reliance on expert opinions in information sources contribute to authority bias. Exposure to these influences reinforces the belief in these figures’ credibility.

The consequences of authority bias can be far-reaching. In professional settings, it can hinder innovation and stifle creativity, as employees may be hesitant to challenge the ideas of those with authority. When an authority figure’s ideas and opinions are considered more valuable than employees, employee morale takes a hit. This results in lower job satisfaction and disengagement.

Additionally, blindly following authority can result in suboptimal decision-making and a lack of critical thinking. Meanwhile, the tendency to overlook alternative perspectives can result in missed opportunities for improvement.

Other consequences of authority bias include the following:

• The perpetuation of misinformation

• Resistance to change

• Reluctance to question established norms

The real-life examples below can help you recognize authority bias in different contexts:

Authority bias in the workplace

• Employees hesitate to challenge a manager’s decision, even if they have valid concerns.

• Team members conform to the opinions of a perceived expert without critically evaluating alternative solutions.

Authority bias in healthcare

• Patients follow medical advice without questioning a diagnosis or seeking a second opinion, solely relying on a healthcare professional’s authority.

• Doctors hesitate to challenge the opinions of more senior colleagues, affecting the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment plans.

Authority bias in marketing

• Consumers are more inclined to trust and purchase products endorsed by authoritative figures such as celebrities and influencers, even if they lack relevant expertise. Marketers use authority figures strategically to lend credibility to their products or services.

Authority bias in politics

• Citizens support initiatives put forward by authority figures without engaging in thorough analysis.

• Authority figures exploit this bias to advance their own agendas at the public’s expense.

Authority bias may influence decisions in the hiring process based on the reputation or status of a candidate’s previous employer.

Similarly, candidates supported or recommended by people in positions of authority—like managers and CEOs or those from prestigious schools like Ivy League colleges—may be considered more favorably. This can cause qualified candidates from lesser-known organizations and colleges to be overlooked.

Authority bias in hiring can perpetuate existing inequalities and hinder efforts to foster diversity in the workplace. Here are a few ways you can mitigate the effects of authority bias when hiring new team members:

• Blind recruitment practices, which help you focus on skills and qualifications

• Diverse hiring panels

The strategies below can help organizations and individuals mitigate authority bias.

Cultivate critical thinking

• Actively question information, even when it comes from authority figures.

• Encourage open dialogue and constructive dissent in professional and personal settings.

Diversify perspectives

• Seek input from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Embrace a culture that values and celebrates diverse viewpoints and ideas.

Promote inclusivity

• Foster an environment where everyone feels empowered to express their opinions.

• Encourage a culture of continuous learning, where challenging authority is seen as an opportunity for growth.

Encourage evidence-based decision-making

• Enhance rational decision-making by making choices based on empirical evidence rather than an individual’s authority.

Yes, authority bias is considered a cognitive bias. Cognitive biases are patterns of deviation from rational or normal judgment, often stemming from heuristic thinking and social influences.

Authority bias shares similarities with other cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and groupthink. They all involve deviating from rational decision-making processes.

Understanding these biases can contribute to more informed and objective decision-making.

Not necessarily. Trusting the science community is often a reasonable and pragmatic approach, given scientific knowledge’s complex and specialized nature. However, authority bias comes into play when individuals unquestioningly accept information based solely on the source’s perceived authority.

It’s not wrong to trust scientific research, but distinguishing between informed trust and blind deference is essential.

Authority bias involves attributing undue credibility to the opinions of authority figures. Trust in the scientific community is typically rooted in the rigorous processes of peer review, evidence-based methodologies, and collective expertise. However, if you blindly accept scientific claims without critical evaluation, authority bias may influence decision-making.

You can counteract this bias by actively trying to understand the scientific process, asking questions, and engaging in critical thinking. Alongside your trust in the scientific community should be a commitment to ongoing learning. Bear in mind that scientific knowledge evolves based on new evidence and discoveries.