Milgrams Original Study Flashcards
Aim
To investigate whether German people were somehow different to other in that they were able to carry out barbaric acts against Jews and other minority groups
Method
Naive part ‘teacher’+ confed ‘learner’ had to deliver electric shocks when L got a word pair wrong, at Start L claims to have heart condition and at 300 volts he bangs on wall and screams to be let out. Verbal prods used “experiment requires you to continue” if part continues to 450 volts they could continue to deliver full shock 3 times before experiment was ended
Results
26/40 men (450)
26/40 women (450)
14 part dropped out before 450
65% gave 450
100% gave 300
Conclusion
Social influence is strong and people will obey orders even when it causes them distress
Anticipated results
2 or 3% would continue to the end, when people asked they claimed they wouldn’t continue to the end
Strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths:
- well controlled procedure so
conclusions can be made
- high reliability can be tested to provide evidence
Weaknesses:
- ethical issues •part moral strain
• deception