What is a negative aspect of legitimate authority?

What is a negative aspect of legitimate authority?

• A. It can be used to justify harming others as when people are directed by a legitimate authority figure
• B. It guarantees ethical compliance
• C. It reduces obedience in groups
• D. It eliminates obedience in groups

Answer: (B)

Legitimate authority makes people more likely to follow directions because the source is seen as rightful. A negative aspect is that this legitimacy can be used to justify harming others. When directives come from an authority, individuals may defer to the instruction and evaluate the action less critically, leading them to commit unethical or harmful acts they wouldn’t choose on their own. Ethical compliance isn’t guaranteed by authority; obedience can persist or even increase under legitimate authority, which is why this aspect is viewed as a danger.

Legitimate authority makes people more likely to follow directions because the source is seen as rightful. A negative aspect is that this legitimacy can be used to justify harming others. When directives come from an authority, individuals may defer to the instruction and evaluate the action less critically, leading them to commit unethical or harmful acts they wouldn’t choose on their own. Ethical compliance isn’t guaranteed by authority; obedience can persist or even increase under legitimate authority, which is why this aspect is viewed as a danger.