Lesson 6- Obedience to Authority (Milgram)

Question 1

When was Milgram’s obedience to authority study carried out?

Answer 1

1963

Question 2

Why did Milgram carry out his obedience to authority study?

Answer 2

To test the ‘Germans are different’ hypothesis

Question 3

What are Milgram’s own views on the situational & dispositional explanation in relation to the German people under Nazi rule in WW2?

Answer 3

• Milgram supports the situational explanation (anyone would’ve done the same)
• Milgram challenges the dispositional explanation (Germans are different)

Question 4

Which university did Milgram experiment in?

Answer 4

Yale university

Question 5

How many pps took part?

Answer 5

40 male pps

Question 6

What was the method/procedure of Milgram’s obedience to authority study?

Answer 6

1) Each participant paired- another person- ‘randomly’ chosen to be teacher 👨‍🏫 or learner 👨‍🎓 (fixed- pps always teacher 👨‍🏫)- 👨‍🎓= confederate
2) Pps thought shock⚡️real & learner real
3) Learner had to remember words that pps read- wrong answer=⚡️- increase⚡️ each time
4) 180V- learner shouted 😱, 300V- begged for release, ⬆️315V- silence
5) Advice from experimenter- answer in form on standardised responses (4 ‘prods’)- go down if previous response unsuccessful- experiment terminated if prod 4 unsuccessful (👨‍🏫 still disobeys)

Question 7

What were the findings/results of Milgram’s obedience to authority study?

Answer 7

• All participants- 300V & 65%- all the way (450V)
• Pps- nervous & tense- 😓, trembled, stuttered- Laughing fits (bizarre)- 14/40 pps
• 3 pps had uncontrollable seizures

Question 8

What was conclusion of Milgram’s obedience to authority study?

Answer 8

Normal ordinary people obey authority even if actions detrimental

Question 9

What was evaluation of Milgram’s obedience to authority study?

Answer 9

👎- Low internal validity- Orne & Holland (1968)- pps didn’t believe set-up- went along- 💭 fake (showed demand characteristics)- Perry (2013)- confirmed- 👂 to tapes- Milgram’s pps expresses doubts
👍- Good external validity (applied to outside world 🌎)- although lab 🧫 environment, reflected real life authority
👎- Ethical issues- deception- pps believed to 💭 roles (teacher & learner) random- pps also thought⚡️ real- betrayal of trust- damage reputation of psychologists & research
👍- Research support- Hofling et al (1966)- Obedient nurses 👩‍⚕‍- confederate (Dr Smith) 📞 22 nurses- 🇺🇸 🏥- instructing them to give Mr Jones (patient) 20mg of Astrofen (double maximum dose stated on box containing Astrofen)- 👩‍⚕‍ breaking rules- must have written authorisation before drug given & don’t know Dr Smith genuine – 21/22 nurses complied
BUT Rank & Jacobson (1977)- argued 👩‍⚕‍ had ✖️ knowledge- drug & ✖️opportunity for nurses to seek help (unlike real situations)
… replicated experiment- Valium- 📞 by real, known doctor- 👩‍⚕‍ able to consult- only 2/18 complied

Question 10

State the ethical issues in Milgram’s study and how he defends them

Answer 10

1) Pps- not fully informed- nature of study- … unable to give full consent
- Experiment required pps ✖️ know true nature of study- deception necessary. ALSO, pps debriefed after & told true aim of experiment
2) Very difficult- withdraw from experiment
- Difficult ✖️ impossible- ✖️ physically forced, 35% did withdraw
3) Risk of long term harm- 💭 to believe- injured 🤕 or killed another person
- Debriefing provided- told⚡️ not real- reunited with learner- obedient pps told behaviour normal & others obeyed too