Gehorsamsstreben

Gehorsamsstreben is a compound German term formed from Gehorsam (obedience) and Streben (striving or pursuit). In German-language scholarly discourse, it denotes a motivational orientation or social tendency to seek, maintain, or idealize obedience—to align one’s beliefs, actions, and loyalties with those in authority or with established norms. The concept appears primarily in sociology, psychology, and political theory as a way to describe a disposition toward compliance.

The term can describe both individual dispositions and broader organizational or cultural patterns in which conformity and obedience are valued, reinforced, or instrumental for stability. It is often used in analyses of bureaucratic systems, authoritarian regimes, and rigid organizational cultures where obedience is cultivated or rewarded. As a descriptive or critical category, Gehorsamsstreben helps illuminate how power structures shape behavior and allegiance.

In relation to existing theories, Gehorsamsstreben overlaps with ideas of compliance, conformity, and obedience to authority. It invites examination of motivation (intrinsic versus instrumental), routine behavior, and the social foundations of compliance. Researchers may explore how authority, surveillance, norm-setting, and social rewards contribute to a persistent tendency toward Gehorsamsstreben in individuals or groups.

Critically, the term remains somewhat broad and variably defined across authors. Debates address its measurability, cultural specificity, and risk of pathologizing ordinary cooperative behavior. The concept is most prevalent in German-language scholarship and in comparative discussions of obedience, authority, and social influence. See also: obedience to authority, conformity, social influence.