Milgram: Behavioural study of obedience Flashcards
When and where was Milgram born?
1933 in America
What was he so interested in obedience?
He was of Jewish descent and wanted to know whether the situation made German soldiers do what they did during the Holocaust.
What was the aim of the study?
To investigate what level of obedience participants would show when an authority figure told them to administer electric shocks to another person.
What sample was used for this experiment?
40 males aged between 20 and 50.
All from New Haven, Connecticut.
What sampling method did Milgram use?
Self - selected
He put an advert in the newspaper offering money to people who took part in an experiment about memory.
What are some weaknesses of Milgram’s sample?
The results of the research would only apply to men.
It doesn’t include any very young or very old people.
All the participants were from the same area.
What is the strength of Milgram’s sample?
The participants came from a variety of backgrounds.
How did they make sure that the participants think that they were actually shocking someone?
They were introduced to another ‘participant’ who was actually an actor.
They then drew straws from a hat; the task was rigged so that the participant would always be the teacher.
When were the shocks administered?
After each incorrect answer.
How many volts was the test shock that each participant received?
45 volts
It was so that the participants knew what kind of pain the ‘student’ would be in.
After how many volts was the wall kicked?
300 volts.
After how many volts was there no response from the learner?
315 volts.
What prods were used during the experiment?
Prod 1 - please continue
Prod 2 - the experiment requires you to continue
Prod 3 - it is essential that you continue
Prod 4 - you have no other choice, you must continue.
what controls were used during the experiment?
The experimenter was always the same.
They were all given the same prods when they refused to continue with the experiment.
What were the quantitative findings of the experiment?
65% of all participants went all the way to 450v (deadly shock).
All 40 went to 300v.
3 refused to continue after 300v.
9 more stopped by 375v.
