milgram’s variation studies: experiment 13

Question 1

what is exp 13 called?

Answer 1

• ordinary man gives orders

Question 2

what was the aim of exp?

Answer 2

• to see whether order given by someone without authority is followed
• in particular to see if order given by an ordinary man, who it’s clear holds no authority unlike his predecessor is carried out

Question 3

what was the procedure of exp?

Answer 3

• experimenter gives instructions about administering the shock, but then gets ’called away’ and leaves room
• there is an accomplice in the room who was initially given task of recording the times and ppt thinks is another ppt like him and learner
• the accomplice makes suggestion of increasing shocks one at a time as victim makes a mistake

Question 4

what were the results of exp?

Answer 4

• experimenter leaving makes awkward atmosphere, which undermined credibility of exp
• only 20% of ppts gave full 450v
• 80% ppts broke away from ordinary man’s instructions, although accomplice urged them to continue
• when ppt refused orders of ‘ordinary man’, there was an adaption to the experimenter: accomplice suggested that he and ppt swapped roles and ppt took over recording
• 16/20 watched distressing scene as the ordinary man gave shocks
• all 16 protested and 5 tried to disconnect generator or physically restrain accomplice

Question 5

what was concluded from the exp?

Answer 5

• levels of obedience fell dramatically with ordinary man who had no perceived authority
• ppts didn’t like seeing the ‘ordinary man’ giving shocks, but weren’t able to prevent it