1. SOCIAL INFLUENCE (Explanations of obedience – Situational variables) Flashcards
What are situational variables in the context of obedience?
Situational variables are external factors that influence a person’s behaviour, such as proximity, location, and uniform, as opposed to dispositional variables, which are based on personality traits.
What is proximity as a situational variable in obedience?
Proximity refers to the physical closeness between the authority figure and the person receiving the order, as well as the closeness between the teacher and the learner in Milgram’s study.
How does proximity affect obedience?
The closer the teacher is to the learner or authority figure, the less obedient they tend to be. For example, when the teacher and learner are in the same room, obedience drops to 40%, and when the teacher forces the learner’s hand onto the shock plate, obedience drops further to 30%.
What is the impact of location on obedience?
The location of the experiment affects obedience. In Milgram’s original study at Yale, 65% of participants administered the maximum shock. However, when the location was moved to a run-down office building, obedience dropped to 47.5%.
How does uniform affect obedience?
Uniforms are symbols of authority. When the authority figure in Milgram’s experiment wore a lab coat, 65% of participants went to the maximum shock. When the authority figure wore ordinary clothes, obedience dropped to 20%.
Why do uniforms encourage obedience?
Uniforms represent legitimacy and societal authority. People are more likely to obey someone in a uniform because they believe the authority figure is entitled to expect compliance.
What does the change in proximity between the teacher and learner suggest about obedience?
When the teacher and learner are in close proximity, the teacher is more directly aware of the learner’s suffering, reducing obedience. Psychological distance between the teacher and learner, such as in the baseline study, results in higher obedience.
What was the impact of changing the proximity between the teacher and authority figure in Milgram’s study?
When the teacher and authority figure were in different rooms, obedience decreased drastically to 21%. Some participants even lied to the experimenter while continuing with the shocks.
How does the proximity of an authority figure influence obedience according to Milgram’s variations?
When the authority figure is less physically present or distant, obedience decreases. For example, when the authority figure was not present in the same room, only 21% of participants obeyed fully.
How does the location affect perceived authority in Milgram’s study?
A prestigious location like Yale lends credibility to the authority figure and increases obedience. In a less prestigious setting, such as a rundown office, the perceived legitimacy of the authority figure drops, reducing obedience.
What is Bickman’s (1974) study, and what does it suggest about uniform and obedience?
Bickman’s field experiment in New York City showed that people were more likely to obey a confederate dressed as a security guard (uniform) compared to one dressed in a jacket and tie. This supports the idea that uniforms can increase obedience
What is a limitation of Milgram’s study regarding population validity?
Milgram’s study had low population validity because all participants were male Americans. The results may not apply to other genders or cultural backgrounds, which affects the generalizability of the findings.
How does cross-cultural replication of Milgram’s study support its findings?
Studies such as Meeus et al. (1986), which replicated Milgram’s study in the Netherlands, found similar results, showing that situational variables affect obedience across cultures, not just in American males.
What is the strength of Milgram’s experimental design?
Milgram’s study used a controlled experimental method, which allows for high control over extraneous variables, making it easier to establish cause and effect between situational factors (e.g., uniform, proximity) and obedience.
What is a limitation of Milgram’s study regarding internal validity?
One limitation is that participants may have suspected the procedure was fake, especially when variables like the uniform or location were manipulated. This could have led to demand characteristics, reducing the internal validity of the findings.
