Chapter 1 Social Influence - Obedience Flashcards
Obedience - Milgram´s research - Baseline procedure?
American men gave fake electric shocks to a ´Learner´in response to instructions (prods) from an ´Experimenter´.
Obedience - Milgram´s research - Baseline findings?
- 65% gave highest shock of 450V.
- 100% gave shocks up to 300V.
- Many showed signs of anxiety e.g. sweating.
Obedience - Evaluation of Milgram´s research - Research support? STRONG
French TV documentary/game show found 80% gave maximum shock, plus similar behaviour to Milgram´s pts (Beauvois et al).
Obedience - Evaluation of Milgram´s research - Low internal validity? WEAK
- Pts realised shocks were fake, so ´play-acting´(Orne & Holland). Supported by Perry - tapes of pts showed only 50% believed shocks real.
- Counterpoint is pts did give real shocks to a puppy (Sheridan & King).
Obedience - Evaluation of Milgram´s research - Alternative interpretation of findings? WEAK
Hasam et al found pts didn´t obey Prod 4. Pts identified with scientfic aims (social identity) - not blind obedience.
Obedience - Evaluation of Milgram´s research - Ethical issues? WEAK/STRONG
Deception means pts could not properly consent (Baumrind). May be balanced by benefits of research.
Situational variables - Research - Proximity?
- Obedience 40% with T & L in same room, 30% for touch proximity.
- Psychological distance affects obedience.
Situational variables - Research - Location?
- Obedience 47.5% in run-down office building.
- University´s prestige gave authority.
Situational variables - Research - Uniform?
- Obedience 20% when Experimenter was ´member of the public´.
- Uniform is a symbol of legitimate authority.
Situational variables - Evaluation of research - Research support? STRONG
Bickman showed power of uniform in field experiment.
Situational variables - Evaluation of research - Cross-cultural replications? STRONG
- Dutch pts ordered to say stressful things to interviewee, decreased proximity led to decreased obedience (Meeus & Raaijmakers).
- Counterpoint is most studies in countries similar to US, so not generalisable (Smith & Bond).
Situational variables - Evaluation of research - Low internal validity? WEAK
Some of Milgram´s procedures in the variations were especially contrived, so not genuine obedience (Orne & Holland).
Situational variables - Evaluation of research - The danger of the situational perspective? WEAK
Gives obedience alibi for destructive behaviour (Mandel).
Situational explanations - Agentic state - Agentic state?
Acting as an agent of another person.
Situational explanations - Agentic state - Autonomous state?
- Free to act according to conscience.
- Switching between the two - agentic shift.