[🧠] Milgram (obedience) Flashcards
3 details of the participant that had a violently convulsive seizure and caused the study to be halted
Milgram (1963)
- 46 year old man
- encyclopedia salesman
- seriously embarrassed by his untoward and uncontrollable behaviour
Who was formally asked to predict the behaviour of hypothetical subjects in this study?
Milgram (1963)
14 Yale psychology-majoring seniors
What were the 14 Yale pscyhology-majoring seniors told exactly about the hypothetical sample of the study before they predicted the results?
Milgram (1963)
“100 Americans
of diverse occupations,
and in ranging age from 20 to 50 years old”
In the post-experimental interview, subjects were asked “How painful to the learner were the last few shocks that you administered to him?”
What was the mean response on the 14-point scale?
Milgram (1963)
13.42
In the post-experimental interview, subjects were asked “How painful to the learner were the last few shocks that you administered to him?”
What was the modal response on the 14-point scale?
Milgram (1963)
14
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 300V?
Milgram (1963)
5
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 315V?
Milgram (1963)
4
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 330V?
Milgram (1963)
2
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 345V?
Milgram (1963)
1
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 360V?
Milgram (1963)
1
How many subjects refused to obey commands beyond 375V?
Milgram (1963)
1
How many subjects obeyed the commands fully and administered the highest shock?
Milgram (1963)
26/40
Who was informally asked to predict the behaviour of hypothetical subjects in this study?
Milgram (1963)
Colleagues of Stanley Milgram
State the four prods - in order - that the experimenter feedback outlines at indication of the participant’s unwillingness to go on.
Milgram (1963)
- Please continue
- The experiment requires that you continue
- It is absolutely essential that you continue
- You have no other choice, you must continue
What was the experimenter’s voice like whilst giving the prods?
Milgram (1963)
“at all times firm, but not impolite”
Experimenter’s feedback when the participant asks if the learner is liable to suffer permanent physical injury
Milgram (1963)
“Although the shocks may be painful, there is no permanent tissue damage, so please go on”
Followed by Prods 2, 3 and 4 if necessary
Experimenter feedback if the subject says that the learner does not want to continue
Milgram (1963)
“Whether the learner likes it or not, you must go on until he has learned all the word pairs correctly”
Followed by Prods 2, 3, 4 if necessary
How were participants debriefed?
(Milgram)
Milgram (1963)
- interviewed
- asked open-ended questions
- projective measures employed
- attitude scales employed
- a friendly reconciliation was made between subject and victim
- an effort was made to reduce any tensions that arose
Describe the shock generator
Milgram (1963)
- had 30 graded switches ranging from left to right
- “Slight Shock” to “Danger: Severe Shock” in a horizontal line
- switches clearly labelled from left to right with voltages ranging from 15V - 450V
- 15V increment between each switch
- last two switches labelled “XXX”
- a red light appears when a switch is depressed
5 details of the experimenter
Milgram (1963)
- 31 year old
- High school Biology teacher
- impassive manner
- appearance somewhat stern
- grey technician’s coat
What were the two main result points of the study?
Milgram (1963)
- There were extreme signs of tension shown
- Subjects accepted the reality of the situation
What are the 3 main findings about participants’ acceptance of the situation?
Milgram (1963)
- subjects were convinced of the reality of the situation
- subjects were convinced that they were administering shocks to another person
- subjects were convinced that the most potent shocks were extremely painful
One result of the observation was the participants thought the most potent shocks administered were “extremely painful”.
Evidence?
Milgram (1963)
[Post-experimental interview] Subjects were asked “How painful to the learner were the last few shocks that you administered to him?”
They rated this on a 14-point scale from “Not at all painful” to “Extremely painful”
The modal response was 14.
The mean response was 13.42.
Characteristic responses of subjects caused by the extreme tension that rose.
Milgram (1963)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Stuttering
- Groaning
- Biting their lips
- Digging their fingernails into their flesh
What was an observation of extreme tension that stood out amongst majority of participants?
Milgram (1963)
Regular occurence of nervous laughing fits
How many subjects showed definite signs of nervous laughter and smiling?
Milgram (1963)
14/40 showed definite signs of nervous laughter and smiling
How many subjects had full-blown, uncontrollable seizures?
Milgram (1963)
3/40 subjects had full-blown, uncontrollable seizures
What did Milgram’s study investigate?
Milgram (1963)
- The conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience
- How far a person would go in obeying an instruction if it meant harming another person considering dispositional and situational hypotheses.
What was the setting of the study?
Milgram (1963)
A laboratory setting
What type of study was Milgram’s?
Milgram (1963)
a controlled observation