Milgram's Original Study Flashcards
How much were the participants paid?
$4.50, even if they were to back out.
How many participants were there?
40 males aged between 20 and 50.
What was the aim of the study?
To find out how far someone will go to obey a higher authority figure, even if it were to be harming someone else.
What percentage of participants went to at least 300 volts?
100%, even though by 300 volts the learner appeared to be unconscious or dead.
What percentage of participants shocked the learner at 450 volts?
65%, even though 450 volt shocks are deadly.
Why did the participants feel pressured?
For several reasons: It was held at a big university (Yale University). The experimenter was wearing a lab coat to show authority. The shocks went up in 15 volts so it was easy to go higher. The experimenter said they learner wouldn’t be harmed, but if so, they would take responsibility.
