10. Obedience: Situational Variables AO1 Flashcards
What are the three situational variables that affect obedience?
- Proximity
- Location
- Uniform
Outline Milgram’s original study circumstances
- teacher and learner in adjoining rooms
- teacher could hear but not see learner
- prestigious Yale uni
- Experimenter wore grey lab coat as symbol of authority
Outline what was changed in proximity version of Milgram’s study
- teacher and learner were in same room
What did Milgram find when learner and teacher were in same room?
Obedience dropped from 65% to 40%
What was Milgram’s second proximity research about and what did teacher have to do
Touch proximity - had to force learners hand onto a shock plate
What were the findings in the touch proximity study?
Obedience rate dropped to 30%
What was Milgram’s final test of proximity? What was done in it?
Remote instruction proximity variation - experimenter left room and gave instructions via phone
What results were found in the remote instruction variation?
Obedience rate dropped again to 20.5% - participants frequently pretended to give shocks or gave weaker than they’re meant to.
What were the three changes in proximity Milgram used?
- Both in same room
- Touch proximity variation
- Remote instruction variation
What did Milgram change about the location of the study?
Was now in a run down building not Yale university
What did Milgram find when he altered location? What does this show?
Obedience fell to 47.5% - indicates experimenter had less authority in this setting
What did Milgram alter about uniform?
In one variation, experimenter called away on a phone call at start of procedure - role of experimenter taken over by ordinary member of public - everyday clothes
What were Milgram’s findings in the uniform variation?
Obedience rate dropped to 20% - lowest of variations
What do Milgram’s findings about uniform suggest?
Uniform acts as a strong visual authority symbol and cue to act obediently
