What are the four factors that combine to make it all too easy to obey orders from people in authority, even if these commands involve harming others and violating one's own ethical or moral standards?

What will be an ideal response?

First, in many situations, the people in authority relieve those who obey the responsibility for their own actions, and because of this many people defend their actions, saying "I was only carrying out orders." Second, people in authority often have visible badges, signs of their status, special uniforms, special titles and more, and these remind people of the powerful social norm to "obey people who are in charge." Third, commands are often gradual in nature and do not start out with orders to perform extreme actions. This form of the foot-in-the-door technique enables a person of authority to ask for small actions first but larger ones later. Lastly, events in many situations involving destructive obedience move at a very fast pace, and this gives the people involved little chance to consider their options.