Obedience to authority has evolved from a philosophical concern to a multidisciplinary debate across psychology, social sciences, and political science. This chapter synthesizes historical, conceptual, and empirical developments, framing obedience as a dynamic psychosocial process shaped by identity, ideology, and structural power. It first revisits foundational research, including Milgram’s (J Abnorm Soc Psychol 67(4): 371–378, 1963, Hum Relat 18(1): 57–76, 1965) experiments, their critiques, and contemporary perspectives reframing obedience through resistance and social identification. Then, it highlights advances in social identity theory, political psychology, and cross-contextual analyses in democratic and authoritarian systems. The third section assesses methodological innovations—from classic experiments to neurocognitive and mixed-method approaches—while addressing ethical dilemmas regarding power and compliance. Integrating insights from neuroscience, sociology, and political science, obedience is a central psychosocial process in maintaining and building the social fabric. In an era of rising authoritarianism and polarization, this chapter argues for a critical approach that fosters ethical compliance and critical, prosocial disobedience, ultimately advocating for research that strengthens deliberation, agency, and collective responsibility.