Contemporary Study - Burger (2009)

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

• to see if milgrams (1963) can be replicated in modern times
• to see if personality influences obedience (empathy and locus of control)
• to see if the presen of a disobedient “model” influences obedience

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

• 70 participants, 29 men, 41 women
• volunteers
• paid before study
• aged 20- 81
• dropped volunteers who knew of milgrams study, studied psychology, have anxiety issues or drug dependencies

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

• Replicates Milgram variation 5 (chest pain)
• learner says he’s got slight heart condition but experimenter says shocks are harmless
• at 150v learner cries they want to stop and complains of chest pain
• if teacher moves to deliver 165v then experiment stops
• in other one it brings in a second confederate to be second teacher to deliver shocks
• at 90v confederate says “idk bout this” and asks participant to take over

Question 4

What questionnaires did Burger use to test for individual differences?

Answer 4

• interpersonal reactivity index (measuring empathy)
• desirability of control scale (measure ing locus of control)

Question 5

What were the ethical controls

Answer 5

• screening process
• had the right to withdraw and keep the $50
• experimenter was a clinical psychologist
• test shock was mild
• introduced learner after and debriefed

Question 6

Results?

Answer 6

• 70% in baseline condition we’re prepared to go past 150v despite the learner wanting to stop
• no significant differences between men and women
• empathy DIDNT make a significant difference
• those who stopped at 150v or sooner had a significantly higher locus of control but not in the modal refusal condition

Question 7

Conclusions?

Answer 7

• milgrams results still stand
• people are still influenced by situational factors to obey an authority figure even if it goes against their moral values
• if participants were to go past 150v they would of gone to 450v as they self perception would make them do this
• modal refusal condition results weren’t different from base conditions highlighting that empathy and locus of control have less to do with obedience