What do we call the act of changing one's behavior due to the command of an authority figure?

The act of changing one’s behavior due to the command of an authority figure is referred to as obedience. This concept is central to social psychology and is defined as a form of social influence where individuals follow direct commands or orders from an authority. The key element that distinguishes obedience from other forms of social influence, such as conformity and compliance, is that it involves a directive from someone in a position of power or authority.

In contrast, conformity involves changing one’s behavior or beliefs to match those of a group, often due to social pressure, rather than an explicit command. Compliance, while also a form of social influence, typically involves giving in to a request rather than a command from someone with authority. Submission, while related, does not specifically denote the presence of an authoritative figure commanding the behavior change. Thus, when a person alters their actions specifically because an authority figure has instructed them to do so, this is accurately classified as obedience.