Milgram Flashcards by Lucy Budd

Aim of Milgram

Understand German behaviour Holocaust
Test obedience to legitimate authority

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Procedure of milgram

40 volunteers - American 20-50 yrs
Paid $4.50 + told to withdraw
Voltage increased in 15V each time until 450V
4 standardised prods
Teacher could leave after all prompts

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 roles of Milgram and explain

Experimenter - prodded participant
Learner - received shock + protested
Teacher - distributed shock

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Name some prods

Please continue
The experiment requires you to continue
You have no choice but to continue

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many people administered to full 450V

65%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many continued to 300V

100%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many dropped out at 300V

12.5%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What did some learners do to show stress

Tremble
Sweat
Bite lips

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many teachers had nervous laughter

35%

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Conclusions of Milgram

Ordinary Americans = surprisingly obedient
Some factors affect obedience - competence, reputation of researcher, idea of advancing science

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Generalisability of Milgram

All male - cannot generalise to females
All American - cannot generalise to other cultures
Time locked in early 1960s

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Reliability of Milgram

Replicated - 19 variations
Prescripted prods + recorded response remains the same

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Application of Milgram

Obedience in schools
Authority figures should wear uniform

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Validity of Milgram

Lacks ecological validity - artificial
People assumed it was episode of famous prank show

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Ethics of Milgram

Well-being ignored
Deceived about shocks
Not give informed consent
Did debrief

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

First couplet of Milgram + obedience essay

AO1: only Caucasian males
DM: Therefore, this study suffers from
AO3: Ethnocentrism- only one ethnicity studied
EDM: Furthermore, cannot be generalised to other ethnicities, may differ in obedience

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Second couplet of Milgram + obedience essay

AO3: lacks ecological validity
DM: because
AO1: learners prodded with electrical shock that increases in voltage
EDM: therefore artificial task that is not representative of real life situations
Cannot give true response on how people obey

Third couplet on Milgram and obedience essay

AO3: Ethically challenged - not given right to withdraw
DM: this is supported by
AO1: prods “it is essential to continue”
Causes strsss - feel as if they cannot withdraw
EDM: however, at the start they can withdraw whenever and still get money

Forth couplet on Milgram + obedience essay

AO1: 40 male volunteers
DM: consequently this study suffers from
AO3: gender bias + androcentrism - only one gender studied
EDM: this shows that, study cannot be generalised to female population - may differ in obedience

Explain variation #7

Experimenter gives instructions and leaves teacher alone
If teachers have Qs they phone experimenter
Prods delivered over phone

Results of variation #7

Significant drop in obedience down to 22.5%
Gave lower shocks than told to do

Conclusion of variation #7

Physical presence is important for obedience

Explain variation #10

Milgram moved study to a run down office in Bridgeport - so participants don’t link study to the uni

Results of variation #10

Big drop obedience to 45.5%
Participants showed more doubts + asked more Qs
One said study is ‘heartless’

Conclusion of variation #10

Setting is not as important

Explain variation #13

20 participants Mr Williams explains procedure and leaves Did not tell teacher to increase shock at wrong answer 2nd confederate Confederate suggest to take up voltage by 15V each wrong answer

Results of variation #13

Only 20% went to 450V 16 rebel participants

Conclusion to variation #13

Status of authority figure is important Shock generator still creates obedience

Explain procedure #13a

16 Rebel participants Confederate swaps with participants - delivers shocks

Results of variation #13a

All 16 protested 5 tried to unplug shock generator or restrain confederate 11 allowed confederate to go to 450V

What is the autonomous state

Act on own behalf + take responsibility for actions

What is the agentic shift

Switch between autonomous and agentic shift When we perceive someone to be a legitimate source of authority and let them control our behaviour

How does the shift from the agentic shift to the agentic state occur

Diffusion of responsibility to authority figure

What is the agentic state

Carrying out orders from authority figure even if they conflict with our morals

What happens if you experience moral strain

You are going through the agentic shift

What happens if obey the order and pass into the agentic state

The responsibility is diffused onto the authority figure

First couplet of agency theory + Milgram

Moral strain - goes against morals This is supported by 35% had nervous laughter This shows they felt uncomfortable + stressed

Second couplet of agency theory + Milgram essay

Participants were in agentic state This is supported by 65% going 450V This shows they diffuse responsibility to authority figure

Third couplet of agency theory + Milgram essay

Nazis in agentic state This is supported by Killed millions under Hitler’s orders This implies they do not see themselves responsible - just following orders

Fourth couplet of agency theory + Milgram essay

Diffusion of responsibility : agentic shift This is supported by Prods were given from figure in lab coat Implies: authority figure + they feel as if they no longer have a choice so do not have a blame