Milgrams Situational Variables Flashcards
Proximity
- physical closeness/distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to
- where the teacher and learner in the same room percentage of p’s who administrated 450 volts dropped from 65% to 40%
- when the experimenter left the room and gave instructions via phone obedience levels fell to 20.5%
Location
- original research in a lab at Yale, milgram changed to a run down office in variations
- percentage of full volts dropped from 65% to 47.5%
- highlights importance of location in creating a prestigious atmosphere generating respect/obedience
Uniform
- originally experimenter wore a lab coat
- in variation, experimenter left to pick up a call and replaced by an ordinary member of the public in everyday clothing
- percentage dropped from 65% to 20%
Obedience ‘alibi’
- milgrams findings supports a situational explanation as they all influenced levels of obedience
- David mandel criticised this and argued it offers an excuse/alibi for evil behaviour and its offensive to survivors of the holocaust to suggest nazis were simply obeying orders
Strength - RESEARCH SUPPORT
P - other studies have demonstrated situational variables on obedience
E - field experiment in ny, bickman had confederates in different outfits (jacket+tie, milkman, security guard) and they asked passers-by to perform tasks like picking up litter. People twice as likely to obey security guard
C - supports milgrams conclusion that a uniform conveys authority and is a situational factor likely to produce obedience
Strength - CROSS CULTURAL REPLICATIONS
P - milgrams research replicated in other cultures
E - Miranda et al found obedience rate of over 90% amongst Spanish students. However, most replication has taken place in western societies so findings cant be applied everywhere
C - suggests obedience isn’t exclusive to American males only but further research is required to get a complete universal idea
Limitation - LACK OF INTERNAL VALIDITY
P - many of milgrams p’s worked out the procedure was faked
E - clear example is when the experimenter is replaced by a member of the public. Even milgram recognised that this may have been problematic.
C - unclear whether the results are genuinely due to obedience or because the participants just acted accordingly to please the experimenter
