milgram,variations, agency theory

Question 1

what is the classic and contemporary study?

Answer 1

sheriff and burger

Question 2

What is social psychology?

Answer 2

Investigates aspects of human behaviour that involves the individuals relationship to other people, groups and society including cultural influence

Question 3

Key assumptions of social psych

Answer 3

Other people ,social situation, being in groups, and the roles we play in society affect our behaviour, though processes and emotions.

Question 4

How does the social approach explain our behaviour?

Answer 4

Adapt our behaviour to demands of social situation and in ambiguous situations we take our cues from behaviour of others in that setting.

Question 5

Describe the social psychology approach (4)

Answer 5

Study of how peoples behaviour is influenced by other people,groups and society.This means it discounts individual differences. Eg looks at how a social situation affects our behaviour we may behave differently with friends than family. Also looks at groups we belong to eg religion and how it affects our behaviour.

Question 6

Define obedience

Answer 6

A form of social influence obeying orders from someone in authority

Question 7

Define compliance

Answer 7

Going along with what someone says while not necessarily agreeing with it

Question 8

Define dissenting

Answer 8

Orders are given but the person doesn’t do what they’re told

Question 9

Define internalising

Answer 9

You obey with agreement

Question 10

Define conformity

Answer 10

You adopt the behaviours of those around you

Question 11

What is the key issue:research on obedience?

Answer 11

Psychological knowledge could be used as an agent of social control eg to increase obedience

Question 12

Define autonomy

Answer 12

Acting one ones own freewill

Question 13

Background into Milgram

Answer 13

Wanted to know how did the Holocaust happen- assumed German soldiers had a personality flaw which made them more obedient to authority (Nature V Nurture are Germans predetermined to be more obedient?)

Question 14

Why is a pilot study important?

Answer 14

Test your procedure. Milgram asked students and lecturers how many people would administer a shock estimated 4% go to 450v. Important as it showed most people believed hardly anyone would follow orders that might kill an innocent person but actual experiment showed that.

Question 15

What is the aim of Milgrams experiment?

Answer 15

To investigate the levels of obedience shown by subjects when they were told by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to another person even if it meant harming them.

Question 16

Participants in Milgram’s study?

Answer 16

40 males ages 20-50 American responded to direct mailing and adverts to take part in a memory and learning study

Question 17

Evaluate the sampling technique used?

Answer 17

Volunteer- Allows access to a wide range of people as adverts were used eg socioeconomic status/Volunteers might be particularly obedient and not representative of the experiment

Question 18

Procedure of Milgram’s study

Answer 18

Participant came to Yale lab along with confederate and drew rigged lots to be teacher or learner. Confederate- Learner, Participant - Teacher. Experiment in a lab coat looking authortarian told to shock every wrong answer) Electric shock given to 45v Ppt/Teacher to show shocks were real then attached to Confederate/Learner. Learner had to learn word pairs and deliberately got them wrong so had to be shocked (inc by 15v) had to go all the way to 450v

Question 19

The Prods Used in Milgram’s Experiment

Answer 19

please go on / the experiment requires that you continue / it is absolutely essential that you continue / you have no other choice you must go on

Question 20

Key results (quantitative)

Answer 20

All went to 300v, 65% to 450v, only 14 stopped before 450v

Question 21

Key results (qualitative)

Answer 21

Showed visible signs of distress, sweating, trembling, laughter and protesting. However, some remained calm throughout.

Question 22

Conclusions

Answer 22

1) level of obedience was not expected- social influence is strong 2) tension and emotional strain by subject- people will obey orders even when it causes them personal distress

Question 23

Outline one methodological weakness of Milgram’s study (4)

Answer 23

Lack mundane realism. This is because the tasks required to do wasn’t something that they would do in everyday life. People are not usually asked to electrocute a stranger if they can’t remember a word pair. Therefore, the study lacks ecological validity as it cannot be applied to everyday life. However, Milgram defended this by arguing the process of obedience was the same regardless of location or task. For example. Hofling et al showed 21.22 nurses were obedient to a Dr when administering a lethal dosage.

Question 24

What does this study tells us about behaviour? (4)

Answer 24

In certain circumstances, people can obey an authority figure to an unexpected extent. The pilot study showed most Americans wouldn’t go over 150v which shows the results of the study were unexpected. This can be seen when 65& of the participants in Milgrams study obey the experiment and adminstered the learner the maximum amount of volts 450.However, this study was done in a prestigious university, in an artificial situation so the experiment lacks ecological validity. It cannot be certain that these results can be applied to everyday life.

Question 25

Generalisability of Milgram’s study

Answer 25

Not representative of pop all ppts from America (ethocentric) all ppts were male (androcentric) sample technique was self-selected so ppts may be different to others so more likely to think scientific research is more biddable.

Question 26

PEEC eg of generalisability

Answer 26

Lacks generalisability as his sample was both androcentric and ethnocentric. Milgram used 40 ppts from N.E USA. This means his results cannot be generalised to woman or other cultures. However Milgram wanted to look at obedience levels of Americans so in that sense it can generalised in that part of the target population. This is because his sample was all from America.

Question 27

Reliability of Milgrams study

Answer 27

Setting is controlled- ppt and confederate always sat in same locations. Same person played role as learner and experiment gave same instructions and prods. Learner always gave the same as it was a tape recording

Question 28

PEEC eg of reliability

Answer 28

A strength of Milgram’s study is that it is considered reliable and so it can be replicated and produce consistent results. Milgram used standardised procedures, ensuring that the true participants experience of the experiment were as near identical as possible to each other. For example the experimenter issued the same 4 prods to the participants like ‘it is essential that you can continue with the experiment’. This means that the study can be repeated almost identically,but allows for the changing of certain variables to see if that variable has an effect on obedience. This can be seen in his variation studies. For example variation 7.

Question 29

What are the applications of Milgram’s research

Answer 29

Shows us the potential infleunce the social situation can have on obedience. Undestand previous events eg behaviour of Nazi guards in WW2. Use obedience for ood eg police and army

Question 30

Validity of Milgram’s study

Answer 30

Artificial setting & task so low in mundane realism and decrease ecological validity. High in experimental realism- people felt tension showing reacting as though situation was real. Milgram argued lab is similar to any other situation where an authority figure eg Dr

Question 31

PEEC on validity

Answer 31

A weakness of this study is that it lacks ecological validity. This means that the findings do not necessarily apply to everyday life. The experimental setting was artifical enviroment where the ppts were asked to electrocute strangers if they got a wrong answer to memory questions. This is not something that people would be normally asked to do. This means that the study lacked mundane realism. However, Milgram argues that often people are in circumstances where they let a dentist drill your teeth which is why it may be considered normal.

Question 32

Strength Milgram’s sampling technique

Answer 32

Allows an access to a wide range of people. Milgram’s study had a sample of 40 men of a variety of ages,occupations,and educational levels.

Question 33

Strengths of quantitative and qualitive data in the same study

Answer 33

Quatitive data is measureable allows us to compare the obedience of participants eg 65& of people went up to maximum voltage.Qualitative data allows us to understand their experiences (sweating) indicating their obedience.

Question 34

Issue and debate linked to Milgram’s variation studies?

Answer 34

Psychology as a science- had very standardised procedures meant replication was possible in different circumstances by keeping everything the same and manipulating one variable allowing cause & effect efferences which increases scientific credibility.

Question 35

What was variation 7 and the results?

Answer 35

Telephonic instructions( physical proximity)- experimenter in the room initially then experimenter leaves room and gives instructions via telephone .Ppts giving 450v –> 22.5%. Observed some ppts administered lower voltage shocks lying to the experimenter and once experimenter returned Ppt obedient again.

Question 36

2 differences from variation 7 and OG study?

Answer 36

OG- experimenter was physically present & experimenter gave instructions face to face,7- experimenter started in the room and then left & prods were given over telephone

Question 37

Strengths of variation 7

Answer 37

Only 1 variation in procedure for each study all other variables remain the same so you can compare effects of manipulating the IV so we can see cause and effect between instructions face to face and over the telephone. Milgram’s results in this variation are well supported as when he varied proximity of the experimenter in other variations obedience levels changed.

Question 38

Weaknesses of variation 7

Answer 38

Participants may not of believed that the shocks were real as they would expect a scientist from a reputable uni to protect ppts. This means validity is lowered. Not a natural situation ppts were placed into the role of helper to the experimenter rather than acting independently.

Question 39

What was variation 10? and the results?

Answer 39

Changed the setting to a run down office in an industrial town called Bridgeport. Told ppts it was being run by ‘Research associates of Bridgeport’ and room used was a lab that was sparsely furnished. 47.5% went to 450v suggests less reputable reduces legitimacy of the study.

Question 40

Strengths of variable 10

Answer 40

Only 1 variation in procedure all other variables remain the same- establish cause and effects of manipulating the IV so we can see cause and effect between IV of setting and DV of obedience. Use of office block instead of uni increases mundane realism of the study so it increases ecological validity as it took place in the real world as it semmed more real than a prestigious uni

Question 41

Weaknesses of variation 10

Answer 41

The set up was still scientific for example being conducted in a lab rather than everyday so we don’t know if people will be similarly obedient in a non-scientific situation. Despite the more natural setting, the study is still low in mundane realism due to the use of the shock generator and the control prods.

Question 42

Differences in variation 10 to OG study?

Answer 42

OG- carried out in a psych lab in Yale, ppts believed it was carried out by professor, Yale is set in an affluent part of town, 10- relocated to Bridgeport,ppts told the research associates of birdgeport, experiments were conducted in a 3 room office suite in a rund down commercial building which was sparsley furnished

Question 43

What was experiment 13? and the results?

Answer 43

Ordinary man gives the orders-3 people in lab 1 ppt and 2 confederates. 1st confederate learner and 2nd role of recording times from experimenter desk. Experimenter got a rigged call and left and told teacher to continue with the task no mention of what level of shock to give. 2nd confederate gave idea to increase voltage. Found only 20% continued to max so authority level or status of experimenter does affect obedience.

Question 44

Weaknesses of variation 13?

Answer 44

Withdrawal of the experimenter seemed staged and artificial. Undermines credibility of the experiment. Participants may not of believed the shocks were real as they expect scientists from a reputable uni to protect ppts. This means validity of research may be low. Ppts may still have felt overall authority lay with prestigious uni.

Question 45

Strengths of variation 13?

Answer 45

1 variation in procedure all other variables remain the same which makes it possible to compare the effects of manipulating the IV so we can show cause and effect between the status of experimenter and obedience. Ppts saw confederate learner draw lots just as they had done reinforces the idea he is just an ordinary man therefore increasing the validity.

Question 46

Differences of variation 13 and OG study?

Answer 46

OG study- only 1 confederate who posed as a learner. Experimenter in a lab coat gave instructions to the teacher to administer the shock. 13- 2 condederates 1 learner and other as a teacher. Confederate teacher dressed as an ordinary man gave instructions to shock the learner

Question 47

Evaluate 1 of Milgram’s variation studies INTRO

Answer 47

Milgram’s OG study was standardised which allowed it to be replicated and change one variable to see the effect this variable had on obedience. In variation 7, Milgram tested to see how physical proximity affected obedience levels by administering instruction to shock the learner by telephone.

Question 48

Evaluate 1 of Milgram’s variation studies STRENGTH

Answer 48

Exactly the same standardised procedures as OG study when testing obedience to authority expect one variable which allows cause and effect conclusions to be drawn. By manipulating the variable of whether the experimenter was close or not delivering instructions to the participant by telephone, Milgram was able to determine the effect of proximity of the experimenter had on obedience levels. Milgram found no of ppts giving max volts dropped from 65% to 22.5% when instructions were delivered by telephone as opposed to being in the same room. Therefore, by keeping the procedures standardised, Milgram was able to make direct comparisons to the OG study and infer cause and effect which increases scientific credibility. However, it could still be argued that mundane realism was low as OG someone giving shocks is not a task people would be normally expected to do.

Question 49

Evaluate 1 of Milgram’s variation studies WEAKNESS

Answer 49

Still has ethical implications for ppt. Ppt in exp 7 still req to administer what they believed to be electric shocks to strangers. As in 7 still req to increase ES by 15v every time learner answered incorrectly. The ppt still showed signs of agitation, distress and moral strain. Therefore it could be argued Milgram failed to protect ppts.

Question 50

What are the 2 states humans exist in agency theory?

Answer 50

Autonomous state- people believe they have the power and freely choose behaviour and guided by own moral code Agentic state- people believe that others have power, allow someone else to direct their behaviour, acting as an agent for someone else and may act against their own moral code

Question 51

How can agency theory be explained through evolution?

Answer 51

A strategy for survival. Following leaders obediently can increases chances of survival in threatening situations. So following orders to stay and fight as a group in the agentic state increases chances of group survival

Question 52

How can agency theory be explained through socialisation?

Answer 52

It can be learned from childhood from parents or in schools where children are taught to put aside their own wishes so that order can be maintained. The legal system reinforces this.

Question 53

What is moral strain?

Answer 53

When they feel that obedient behaviour is wrong and goes against their own moral values. Milgram argued people felt moral strain by although they obey the experimenter they knew they were wrong to do so.

Question 54

2 ways moral strain can be reduced?

Answer 54

Displacing their responsibility onto an authority figure shifting into an agentic state. By dissenting, choosing not to obey.

Question 55

Issue and debate NVN of obedience

Answer 55

Milgram attempted to argue obedience wasn’t a dispositional trait as it could be a consequence of the situation we find ourselves in. Behaviour manifests as we are exposed to authority figures under certain environmental conditions conducive to compliance such as closeness and status of authority figure.

Question 56

Evidence for agency theory

Answer 56

Milgram’s study provides evidence as ppts showed evidence of distress when given order to harm a person. Supported by Hofling et al nurses would follow doctors orders within a hospital when asked to give a patient a drug

Question 57

Evidence against agency theory

Answer 57

Lacks direct evidence as agency is an internal mental process so cannot be directly observed. Tells us people tend to obey an authority figure but doesn’t tell us why they do.

Question 58

Strengths in methodology for agency theory

Answer 58

Milgrams studies used standardised procedures which means they can be replicated and allows variable manipulation which allows us to infer cause and effect which increases scientific credibility. Explains different levels of obedience found in variations to the OG study as ppts made to take more responsibility obedience decreased.

Question 59

Weaknesses in methodology for agency theory

Answer 59

Tasks Milgram used lacked mundane realism. Tasks ppts asked to do ‘shocking’ someone wouldn’t be what would be expected. This means it lacks ecological validity and doesn’t generalise to everyday life.

Question 60

Applications of agency theory

Answer 60

Explains real life events such as obedience to authority shown by US soldiers during the Vietnam war. Studies from different cultures eg Meeus and Raajmaker found Dutch ppts harass job applicant because they were told to do so. Can be ap0plied to real life eg Hofling et al showed how nurses obeyed

Question 61

Issue and debate with agency theory

Answer 61

Doesn’t count for individual differences why some people obey and some people don’t and ignores factors such as personality type

Question 62

Alternative theory to agency theory

Answer 62

French and Raven- 5 bases of power, legitimate power, reward power, referent power, expert power, and coercive

Question 63

Ethical implications of agency theory?

Answer 63

Remove personal responsibility from those who commit follow immoral orders, thus offering excuses to people to follow authority even when it is wrong to do so.

Question 64

Daisy has just started a job at a new office where she is a junior position and her manager asked her to make tea and coffee. When manager isn’t there she is reluctant to make any explain why feels this way

Answer 64

Daisy is being obedient to authority when the manager is there according to agency theory they have legitimate status and authority. The agency theory argues Daisy would’ve been socialised from a young age to obey authority figures. Milgram’s argues is a evolutionary mechanism to maintain social order. When the manager is present Daisy is acting in an agentic state as described by agency theory. This means she’s not acting of free will and allowing someone else to direct her behaviour to make the tea even if she doesn’t want to. When the manager was away Daisy felt reluctant because she was acting in an autonomous state and freely choosing her own behaviour