Milgram

Question 1

Aims and Hypotheses

Answer 1

-Milgram set out to test ‘Germans are different’ hypothesis
- Did Germans have personality defects that allowed for inhumane acts? Or are we all more obedient than we realise?
- Before the study, Milgram asked 14 Psych students to predict results, they estimated no more than 3% would go up to 450V

Question 2

What did Milgram want to understand?

Answer 2

The reasons behind obedience to destructive authority and with particular interest in Nazi Germany

Question 3

Methodology

Answer 3

-Lab experiment conducted at Yale- controlled environment
-40 male p’s aged 20-50 with range of different jobs
-Each male was payed $4.50 for participation
-Random sample- study was advertised in local newspaper

Question 4

Obedience

Answer 4

A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority, who has power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming.

Question 5

Situational

Answer 5

Behaviour is influenced by external factors

Question 6

Dispositional

Answer 6

Behaviour influenced by internal factors

Question 7

Procedure 1

Answer 7

The ps drew slips of paper to decide which of them would play the role of ‘teacher’ or ‘learner’. This was rigged and all ps got teacher role whilst the ‘learners’ were played by Milgrams confederates

Question 8

Procedure 2

Answer 8

The shock machine: Teacher was sat in a room with a shock machine that had 30 switches, ranging from 15-450 volts.
The ‘teacher’ was given a sample shock so they knew machine was real.

Question 9

Procedure 3

Answer 9

-The learning task: in a separate room the ‘learner’ was strapped to a chair with electrodes.
-The teacher was told to administer a shock when the learner got an answer wrong and to escalate to a higher level of shock each time.
-The learner was told to make no comment or protest until 300 volts was reached.

Question 10

Procedure 4

Answer 10

-Feedback from experimenter:the experimenter gave prods when the teacher became reluctant (eg it’s absolutely essential that you go on)
-Dehoax: after the research was completed, the teacher was “‘de-hoaxed’ (debriefed) then interviewed

Question 11

Findings

Answer 11

-65% of ps continued to the highest level of 450 volts
-This means that 35% of ps defied the experimenters authority.
-All ps continued to 350 volts

Question 12

Conclusions

Answer 12

-The location of prestigious university provided authority
-Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by authority figure, even to extent of killing an innocent in some cases
-The p didn’t want to disrupt study as felt under obligation by experimenter

Question 13

Evaluation: Ethical issues

Answer 13

Deception- teachers believe they were actually shocking and harming a real person. However, M stated that deception is sometimes necessary to get reto difficult truths. Overall experiment has proved beneficial in understanding human behaviour.
RtW-ps should be made very aware that they can withdraw at any time. However M didn’t do this. Instead issuing a series of prods that discouraged