Factors Influencing Obedience

In the study of social psychology, the Milgram experiment is a renowned investigation into obedience and authority. Participants were instructed to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a confederate who pretended to struggle and express pain. The results revealed a concerning level of compliance with authority figures, as many participants continued to administer shocks despite the apparent distress of the victim. Given this context, which of the following factors is MOST likely to influence an individual’s likelihood to obey authority figures in a similar context?