L5 - obedience to authority

Question 1

what is obedience

Answer 1

when an individual follows a direct order by a figure of authority who has to power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming

Question 2

procedure of milgrams study

Answer 2

• 40 male volunteers from newspaper advert (money for taking part in study of punishment and learning), different ages, backgrounds
• one pp teacher and one pp learner, confederate was learner real pp was teacher
• pps shown electric chair and given sample shock to convince them procedure was real
• teacher told to test learner recall and give electric shock when learner made mistake and increase voltage with each mistake
• learner gave predetermined responses, learner’s prerecorded screams became more dramatic
• continued until teacher refused or until 450v reached
• if teacher objected, experimenter responded with standardises prods e.g. please go on, the experiment requires you continue, it is absolutely essential you continue, you have no other choice you must go on

Question 3

findings of milgrams study

Answer 3

100% went to 300v (intense shock)
12.5% stopped at 300v
65% went to full 450v
milgrams collected qualitative data and observations for pps and they showed severe distress and 3 pps had full blown uncontrollable seizures

Question 4

conclusions of milgrams study into obedience

Answer 4

most people obey orders under certain circumstances even if orders involve inflicting pain on another

Question 5

2 strengths of milgrams study

Answer 5

• high internal validity: lab experiment so easily replicated, easier to control variables like prods so more sure that IV is affecting DV instead of EV
• supporting evidence - hofling etal: unknown doctor phoned 22 nurses and asked to administer 2x recommended dose of drug they were unfamiliar with, 21/22 nurses did as told. shows that social pressure by imbalance of power could lead to nurse putting patient at risk rather than disobeying orders

Question 6

2 weaknesses of milgrams study

Answer 6

• ethical issues: informed consent, pps told study was on memory so could not give informed consent for obedience but pps were debriefed and told true aims later + deception
• low external validity: population all male and USA so cannot make conclusions about universality of findings as sample not representative