milgram - desc

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see if ppts would blindly obey orders given by an AFP when told to administer shocks to an innocent person

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

• 40 ppts
• male
• 20-50
• USA
• volunteer sample -> responded to an ad on study of memory (paid $4.50)

Question 3

Procedure (pre experiment,1)

Answer 3

• lab experiment
• Yale University
• Role of teacher and student were given
• Ppt was led to believe the confederate was also a ppt

Question 4

Procedure (pre experiment,2)

Answer 4

• teacher watched learner being strapped into a chair and wired up so ‘shocks’ could be felt
• teacher taken to another room and given a real 45V shock
• teacher sat infront of of generator going from 15V-450V
• teacher read word pairs to learner
• learner has 4 buttons for the answer
• always gives wrong answer
• wrong answer results in 15V shock
• increases in 15V increments
• 300V -> student bangs head on wall becomes unresponsive
• 4 verbal prods to continue
• “you must continue”

Question 5

Result

Answer 5

• all -> 300V
• 65% -> 450V
• ppts seen to sweat, tremble and stutter
• 35% -> nervous laughter

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

• when we recognise authority we react with obedience even when this causes distress
• helps us understand why destructive obedience may occur, such as the holocaust