Milgram Flashcards
what approach is used
social approach
what is being investigated
obedience and social pressure
what is destructive obedience
obedience that has potential to cause psychological or physical harm to another
what is the background to the study
Stanley Milgram was Jewish, he sought to challenge the ‘Germans are different’ hypothesis. he proposed a situational explanation for obedience that many people who found themselves in a similar situation would harm or even kill other human beings under the orders of an authority figure. Those asked believed that 3% would deliver the max voltage
what was the aim of the study?
to investigate how obedient individuals would be to orders received by a person of authority, even when it would result in physical harm.
what was the research method
controlled observation,behaviour of ppts was recorded and observed. However no manipulated IV
how was ppts level of obedience measured and how was it operationalised
observation, operationalised through the max voltage given in response to orders. Ppts body language and verbal comments were also noted
what was the sample?
40 men, aged 20 to 50 years old, volunteer sample, all from Connecticut, all different occupations and education
how were the ppt deceived
they were told the shocks would not cause long term damage and that they were just painful. Given example shock of 45 volts. Told it was investigating punishment on learning. A confederate was used
what was the procedure in simple terms
Ppts introduced to man they thought was another ppt (he was a confederate) he was likeable and middle aged, who worked for milgram. They drew pieces of paper from a hat to determine who would be the teacher and learner but was fixed so ppt was always teacher. Ppt taken to another room, presented with shock generator. words such as ‘moderate shock and xxx danger severe shock’ used. Whenever learner made mistake they had to shock him, increasing the level by 15v each time. at 300 and 315v the learner began to bang on walls and after this stopped responding. experimenter used verbal cues like please continue, you must go on.
what were the prods given by experimenter
please go on, please continue, the experiment requires that you continue, it is absolutely essential that you continue, you have no other choice you must go on. they had a set wording and standard order
what was the mean estimate of the pain of 450 volts
13.42 out of 14
what are the strengths of this study
controlled observation meant that possible to control extraneous variables. standardisation of verbal prods mean more reliable, realistic design improved the validity.Quantitative data
