1.1.2 Milgram's variation studies

Question 1

VARIATION #7: ABSENT AUTHORITY

Answer 1

In this Variation, the Experimenter gives the participants their instructions at the start, then leaves the Teacher alone in the room with the shock generator and a telephone. If the Teachers have questions or doubts, they must phone the Experimenter. The “prods” are delivered over the telephone.

Question 2

RESULTS OF VARIATION #7: ABSENT AUTHORITY

Answer 2

There was a significant drop in obedience, down to 9 (22.5%), and some participants gave lower shocks than they were told to do (because they thought they were unobserved).

Milgram concludes that the physical presence of an authority figure is important for obedience.

Question 3

VARIATION #10: INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT (the “Bridgeport” Variation)

Answer 3

The original study was carried out at Yale University, in rather grand surroundings.

In this Variation, Milgram moves the study to a run-down office in the busy town of Bridgeport. There is nothing to make the participants link things to the University: Mr Williams claims to work for a private research firm.

Question 4

RESULTS OF VARIATION #10: INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT (the “Bridgeport” Variation)

Answer 4

There was a drop in obedience to 47.5%, but Milgram didn’t think this was big enough to be significant. Participants showed more doubts and asked more questions. One of them made notes as if they intended to make a complaint later and another one objected that the study was “heartless”.

Milgram concludes that the setting is not as important for obedience as the status of the authority figure.

Question 5

VARIATION #13/13a: ORDINARY AUTHORITY FIGURE

Answer 5

The original study used Mr Williams as the Experimenter, who looked severe and wore a lab coat. In this Variation, Mr Williams explains the procedure to the participant but then is called away. Crucially, Mr Williams does not tell the Teachers to increase the shock by 15V with each incorrect answer.

There is a second confederate present, who seems to be another participant, given the job of “writing down the times” of each test. With the Experimenter gone, this confederate suggests “a new way of doing the study,” taking the voltage up by 15V each time there’s a mistake.

Question 6

RESULTS OF VARIATION #13/13a: ORDINARY AUTHORITY FIGURE

Answer 6

Only 20 participants did this Variation and only 4 (20%) obeyed by going to 450V.

Milgram concludes that the status of the authority figure is important, but other features of the situation (the instructions, the shock generator) still create obedience.

In Variation 13a, Milgram uses the 16 “rebel” participants from Variation #13.

In other words, as soon as the participants in Variation #13 rebelled, Milgram moved into the procedure for #13a with them. From the participants’ viewpoint, it seemed like the same study continuing, not a new one starting.

The confederate suggests swapping places: now the confederate gives the shocks and the disobedient participant writes down the times. The participant is now a bystander, watching someone else deliver the shocks.

All 16 participants protested. Five of them tried to unplug the shock generators or restrain the confederate physically. However, 11 (68.75%) allowed the confederate to go to 450V.