Milgram

Question 1

State the aim of Milgram’s original basic study of obedience (1963)

Answer 1

To establish how obedient pps would be when ordered to administer increasingly intense electrical shocks by an authority figure, thinking they were harming that person.

Question 2

State 4 procedure points of Milgram’s original study (1963)

Answer 2

• 40 male pps aged 20-50 answered a local newspaper advert asking for people to take part in a study at Yale University.
• in a rigged draw the pp drew lots with the confederate to decide if they would the teacher or the learner. The pp always ended up as the teacher.
• the pp was instructed by the experimenter to administer electric shocks, which increased by 15 volts, each time the learner got a question based around pairs wrong.
• if the pp asked to stop, the experimenter delivered a standardised sequence of 4 verbal prods to encourage the teacher to continue e.g. “It is absolutely essential that you continue”

Question 3

State 3 results of Milgram’s original basic study (1963)

Answer 3

• 65% of pps gave 450v to a silent an unresponsive learner.
• 100% of pps obeyed to 300 volts.
• Many pps showed signs of distress. Pps were seen yoyo swear, tremble, some begged to stop and one had a seizure.

Question 4

State 2 conclusions of Milgram’s original study (1963)

Answer 4

Ordinary people obey authority, even when it causes them distress, because of the social situation they are in.
Some of the features that led to obedience include: held at Yale, a prestigious university and so the pps trusted the expertise of the experimenter and the generator went up in small steps so it was easier to obey.

Question 5

State 2 strengths of Milgram’s original basic study (1963)

Answer 5

• Milgram’s study had a very well controlled procedure. For example the experimenter used the same verbal prods in a set order and the learners responses were scripted. This ensured each pps had the same experience so no bias occurred and cause and effect conclusions could drawn. As it was unlikely other factors led to the result.
• Milgram’s study was replicable due to the controlled procedures, such as scripted learner responses, this meant it could be tested for reliability. His original study had been replicated by Milgram in his variation studies and consistent result were achieved.

Question 6

State 2 weaknesses of Milgram’s original basic study (1963)

Answer 6

• Milgram’s study had low ecological validity as it was carried out in an artificial lab setting at Yale University not in the pps natural environment. Pps may have felt protected by the experimenter and trusted that what happened at Yale would be acceptable.
• Milgram’s original study has been criticised for being unethical. Many of the pps suffered from psychological harm like shaking, trembling and begging to stop. The experimenter pressured the pps to stay by using verbal prods, making withdrawal from the study difficult.

Question 7

State the aim of Milgram’s variation study - telephonic instructions (experiment 7)

Answer 7

To see if altering the situation of the basic study, by moving the authority figure to another room and giving order over the phone, would make it easier to dissent and resist orders.

Question 8

State 3 procedure points of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 7)

Answer 8

• The procedure of the original study was followed apart from one alteration.
• The experimenter gave the instructions the participants needed regarding the setup of the task in the same room. This was up until the task commenced.
• The experimenter then left the laboratory and communicated instructions and verbal prods to the teacher out of sight via telephone.

Question 9

State the result of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 7)

Answer 9

Obedience rate to 450v fell to 22.5% - a significant drop compared to 65% in the original study.

Question 10

State 2 strengths of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 7)

Answer 10

• Milgram’s variation study has high reliability as he replicated his original study by following the same standardised procedures - volunteer sample, rigged draw. By changing just one element it allowed him to make comparisons to the original study.
• the study has positive applications to society for people such as police and readers. If these people need to maintain high levels of obedience on the street or in the classroom they should be present and in close proximity to their target.

Question 11

State the conclusion of Milgram’s basic original study (1963)

Answer 11

Milgram’s original study revealed how far ordinary people were willing to go to obey an authority figure even when it meant seriously harming another person.
The study simulated a great deal of research into obedience across the world.
Milgram developed the agency theory from his findings.

Question 12

State the conclusion of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 7)

Answer 12

The study helped to reveal that te authority figures role was very influential in determining levels of obedience.

Question 13

What was Milgram’s experiment 10?

Answer 13

Rundown office block

Question 14

What was Milgram’s experiment 7?

Answer 14

Telephonic instructions

Question 15

State the aim of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 15

To find out whether obedience would drop if the setting were not so prestigious, in this case a rundown office building in Bridgeport.

Question 16

State 4 procedure points of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 16

• The procedure of the original study was followed apart from one alteration.
• Te study was moved to Bridgeport, an industrial city near Yale. All links to the university were removed.
• Pps were told that the study was being conducted by a private research firm.
• the building was rundown and sparsely furnished.

Question 17

State the result of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 17

Obedience levels to 450v dropped to 47.5% but this was not a significant drop compared to 65% in the original study.

Question 18

State 2 strengths of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 18

• Has high reliability as he replicated his original study by following the same standardised procedures eg volunteer sample, rigged draw. By changing one element, the study being moved from Yale to a rundown office block in Bridgeport, allowed him to make comparisons to the original.
• This variation study was higher in ecological validity than the original study in that it took place in a real world setting, an office block rather than a lab. Two pps were quoted as questioning the legitimacy of the study and competence of the researchers which did not happen in the lab at Yale. This means that findings can be generalised to real life settings.

Question 19

State one weakness of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 19

Lacks ecological validity as although the pps are in the real world it does not measure real obedience. The controls in the study and the task involved, such as the generator and verbal prods are all likely to show pps the task is far from real.

Question 20

State re conclusion of Milgram’s variation study (experiment 10)

Answer 20

It helped to reveal the integrity of the setting was not as influential as the role of the experimenter in influencing obedience.

Question 21

In Milgram’s opinion how did obedience evolve within humans?

Answer 21

Milgram observed that human society is hierarchical and this has evolved for a survival function.
The process of socialisation (in families and schools) prepares us to be obedient. Eg as children we learn to obey our parents.

Question 22

What are the two states Milgram believes humans live in?

Answer 22

Autonomous and agentic

Question 23

Define the autonomous state with an example

Answer 23

In an autonomous state humans act according to their own free will, as they feel in control and have the power to make their own decisions. They feel responsible for their own actions.
Eg. The 35% of pps that refused to obey the experimenter and administer electric shocks in Milgram’s original study were in the autonomous state.

Question 24

Define the agentic state and give an example.

Answer 24

In an agentic state humans see themselves as an agent or the authority figure. They give up their free will in order to follow instructions and displace responsibility of their actions to te authority.
Eg. The 65% of pps continued to obey the experimenter until 450v despite feeling it was wrong as they were in the agentic state.

Question 25

Define moral strain

Answer 25

Moral strain is a feeling of anxiety or discomfort that occurs when a person is asked to do something by an authority figure that they feel is immoral or unjust, as the behaviour goes against their values of right and wrong.

Question 26

State 2 strengths of Milgram’s agency theory of obedience

Answer 26

• The theory has real life applications to explain obedience including verbal reports by General Eichmann following WWII as to why they obeyed destructive orders to kill innocent people without question. They saw themselves as as agents to the person giving the orders and displaced responsibility for their actions into him.
• Agency theory has supporting evidence from Milgram’s original and variation studies of obedience. In the original study the pps were in the agentic state and did not take responsibility for their actions that is why 65% obeyed to 450v.

Question 27

State 2 weaknesses of Milgram’s agency theory of obedience

Answer 27

• It is an oversimplified explanations of obedience as it is reductionist. There could be other reasons why a person obeys or disobeys an authority figure such as their genes and personality.
• Te theory could have negative contributions to society. This is because it could be used by individuals as an excuse for bad behaviour where hateful acts are allowed to take place without judgement.

Question 28

State a conclusion of agency theory

Answer 28

Agency theory is more of a description of how society works than an explanation of why people obey. This suggests that the theory does not offer a fully credible explanation of why most people obey authority whilst others dissent.

Question 29

What is the definition of obedience?

Answer 29

Obedience is a type of social influence where an individual follows rules given by an authority figure.