Destructive Obedience

Destructive obedience is the act of obeying a command to harm another. This type of obedience is seen in criminal relationships, sometimes influenced by substance abuse, where one partner has immense emotional sway over the other. This type of obedience is also seen in some cults, religions, and other group relationships where followers have an intense emotional devotion to a leader. This can be seen in recent history with the number of cults that have committed illegal acts, even murder and suicide, at the behest of a leader. An example of destructive obedience would be the Charles Manson murders in which his followers murdered innocent people at his request.