Authority

Question 1

Milgram experiment: key findings

Answer 1

• 65% delivered max. shock
• not sadistic behaviour, rather, power of situation
• not blind obedience, rather, indecisive obedience (wanted to stop, tried to, but didn’t fully commit)
• point of no return: 150 volts (if teacher continued to shock past this, they’d usually go all the way)

Question 2

Milgram experiment: things that influenced power of situation

Answer 2

• Gradual shock increase
• Confusing situation
• Seemingly appropriate transfer of responsibility
• Deindividuation: “teacher & learner” rather than names
• physical distance of teacher to learner (the closer they are, the less obedience)

Question 3

Milgram replication study (Burger): what did they do?

Answer 3

• partial replication of Milgram -> went up to 150 volts (point of no return)
• assumed those who would continue past 150 volts would go all the way (like they did in Milgram’s study)

Question 4

Milgram replication study (Burger): ethical considerations

Answer 4

• stopped at 150 volts to avoid excessive stress
• 2-step screening process
• Reminders that they could withdraw from study
• Experimenter administered LOW sample shock to participants (so they could see it was real)
• Confed. Entered immediately post-experiment to assure participant they were fine
• Experimenter was clinical psychologist who would end study immediately if he saw signs of excessive stress

Question 5

Milgram replication study (Burger): comments on Milgram’s original study - when is obedience strong and low?

Answer 5

• strong when authority is seen as legitimate
• strong when demands increase gradually
• strong when in a new situation where they’re unsure of how to act -> defer to someone who seems knowledgeable (ie. Experimenter)
• • Ex. If experimenter seems fine, obedience continues; if experimenter seems concerned, obedience disappears
• strong when responsibility can be deferred (ie. Experimenter is responsible for what happens)
• low if other confederate “teachers” refuse to participate

Question 6

Milgram replication study (Burger): what did they find?

Answer 6

• Obedience rates were only slightly lower than Milgram’s initial study
• Participants who saw a confed. refuse expectations obeyed as often as those who saw no model
• Men and women didn’t differ
• Empathy and desire for control influenced results

Question 7

Milgram replication study (Burger): why did they find what they did?

Answer 7

• power of the situation!

- although years have passed, people still react the same way when put in that situation