Milgram's study (1963) - AO1

Question 1

What is obedience?

Answer 1

A form of social influence in which a person follows a direct order
* The person issuing order is usually someone who had authority, and who has power to punsh if an order is not followed

Question 2

What is the aim of Milgram’s study?

Answer 2

To see if ordinary people wold obey orders to harm someone

Question 3

How many PPs were in Milgram’s study?

Answer 3

40 American male volunteers

Question 4

What was the procedure for Milgram’s study?

Answer 4

1. “Randomly” assigned the role of “teacher” and “learner” but real pp is always the teacher
2. Test learner on recall of word pairs, teacher in a seperate room with experimenter to give fake electric shock if incorrect, increasing voltage each time
3. Pre-recorded screams became louder until banging on wall at 300V and silence at 315V
4. Continued until 450V or PP asked to stop, after being given a serie of prods to continue from the experimenter

Question 5

What were the findings in Milgram’s study?

Answer 5

Every pp delivered all the shocked up to 300V. 65% of pps continued to the highest shock of 450V

Question 5

What were the conclusions of Milgram’s study?

Answer 5

Obedience not trait of German people; American PPs too were willing to obey orders, even to harm another person