Milgram Flashcards
What was the aim of Milgram’s study?
The aim of the experiment was to investigate what level of obedience would be shown when participants were told by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to another person.
What is the method of Milgram’s study?
The study can be an experiment however there is no control condition (they all took part in same procedure) could be a controlled observation..but IV can be seen as prods and DV could be obedience.
Who were the participants in Milgram’s study and how were they recruited?
40 males aged between 20-50yrs from New Haven. Newspaper advert about memory study at Yale University. They were paid $4.50 for participation.
What was the procedure of Milgram’s study?
A phoney shock generator was created with 30 switches from 15v to 450v. The experimenter was played by a bio teacher in a technician coat who was emotionless throughout the experiment. The victim Mr. Wallace was trained for the role who seemed likeable.
Told it was about punishment and learning. Participants told to draw from a hat although both said teacher. Learner strapped to chair with electrode strapped to wrist and told linked to shocks, the participant was told shocks would have no permanent tissue damage.
Participant was given 45v shock for authenticity. The participant asked the learner to memorise the pair associations. If the answer was wrong participant was told to shock learner, no answer is wrong.
After 315v there was pounding on the wall and stopped responding, the experimenter used the 4 prods if asked if they should continue.
A participant who breaks odd before 450v they are a defiant offender, whilst those obeying are obedient offenders. Sessions wee filmed and notes were taken. After experiment they were debriefed and asked open ended questions. Participants were reunited with victim.
What were the 4 prods used in Milgram’s study?
1: ‘please continue/go on’
2: ‘the experiment requires you to continue’
3: ‘it is absolutely essential you continue’
4: ‘you have no other choice you must go on’
What are the results of Milgram’s study?
All 40 went up to 300v and then 5 refused to continue
4 gave 1 further shock
26 obeyed the experiment. 65% gave up to 450V
Participants showed nervousness and tension, they sweated, trembled, stutters, groaned, fingernails dug in flesh, laughing fits in 14 participants, seizures from 3 participants.
84% were happy to particpate
What was the conclusion of Milgram’s study?
Ordinary people obey orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing and innocent human being. Obedience to authority is ingrained in us all when we grow up.
Leading to an agentic state where others direct their actions and pass off responsibility for consequences to person giving orders.
What is the background of Milgram’s study?
Milgram set out to question disposition attribution of the Germans. The situation led to inhuman behaviour of Nazis and therefore anyone in the same situation would do the same.
This situational attribution is an example of obedience and complying to demands of others including authority figures.
