Obedience Flashcards
define the term obedience
- type of si
- someone acts in response to a direct order from a figure w percieved authority
- respond in a way that would not have done w the order
what is the aim of Milgrams experiment
investigate if individuals would obey orders of authority figure even if it leads to 👎🏼 negative consequences
give AO1 for Milgrams study
- conducted at Yale lab
- 40 🇺🇸 male aged 20-50
- advert $4.50 newspaper
- elctric shocks if learner got it wrong
- “please continue”
- 100% 300V
- 65% 450V
what was the conclusion in Milgrams obedience
ordinary ppl are obedient to authority when asked to behave in an inhumane way.
not necessarily evil ppl who commit evil crimes ordinary ppl who are just obeying orders
give a RTS to Milgrams study
P - research into obedience to authority was conducted by Hofling
E - using nurses on a hospital wards 21/22 agreed to give Astroten dangerous drug
E - knew not to take orders over the phone
L - supports idea we are obedient to authority (doctor) strengthens external validity
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Give a criticism of Milgrams obedience
P - major ethical issues
E - lack on informed consent as ppts believed taking part in a study of memory
E - deception - ppts believed shocks were real
lack of right to withdraw - prompted to continue
L - limiting Milgrams research into obedience
Give another criticism of Milgrams study
P - gender bias 40 male ppts
E - females more obedient more submissive
E - Sheridan Kings study 100% ⚡️🐶
L - weakens external validity
counter argument
trying to explain Nazi soldiers behaviour largely male 👦
How does proximity affect obedience?
- how far or close learner is to authority figure
- 65%>40%
- teacher can see how behaviour was having an effect on learner
How does location affect obedience?
- ✨prestigious university (Yale) to run down office 👎🏼
- fell from 65% - 48%
- amount of perceived authority was reduced
How does uniform affect obedience?
- M’s original exp research wore grey lab coat 🥼 ‘air’ of authority
> knowledgeable - ordinary member of public everyday clothes 👕
>dropped 20%
uniform acts as a strong visual authority symbol
What is RTS SV affecting obedience?
P - Bickman NY 🗽 E - confederates dressed as 🥛💼👮♂️ asked passers-by to give 💰parking or litter E - ppts x2 lisn to 👮♂️than 💼 L - supports power of uniform
Give a criticism of SV affecting M’s study
P - criticised by Mandel (1988)
E - mass killing of jews conducted in close proximity
E - M states obedience ⬆️ when uniform
Give an alternative explanation of SV affecting obedience
P - dispositional factors (internal factors) The AP
E- obedience is due to internal characteristics of the
person e.g. their personality
E - obedience may
not just be due to proximity, location and uniform (external factors).
L- This weakens the research not the sole explanation.
Define agentic state
- personal responsibility for actions (autonomous state)
- to where they act on behalf of an authority figure
- known as agentic shift no longer feel guilty
- more likely to obey
Define LOA
- obedient individuals accept power and status of authority figure seem them as being in charge
- accept ppls credentials they know what they are doing
- ingrained within us to obey
What is RTS for AG
P- shown in M’s obedience studies
E -M’s ppts resisted shocks and asked ‘who is responsible’ experimenter said ‘i am responsible’
E - ppts continued to obey and give ⚡️
L - ppts no longer believed they are responsible for their actions
What is research to contradict AG?
P- conducted by Mandel (1998)
E- German Nazi soldiers men obeyed to shoot civilians in a small 🇵🇱 town
E- told beforehand they cud have other duties instead
L- soldiers chose to shoot civilians can’t blame authority figure
Give a strength of LOA
P- account for cultural differences in obedience
E - authority more likely to be accepted as legitimate
E - supported by cross cultural replications of M’s study (🇦🇺 16% 450v 🇩🇪 85% 450v)
L - ↑external validity
Define AP
- collection of personality traits develops from strict parenting childhood e.g extreme strict discipline
- extreme respect for perceived authority superior
- anger towards inferior
- measured F scale high score = AP
- black and white thinking
What is RTS for AP?
P - conducted by M and Elms
E - interviewed ppts asked to complete F scale
E - high levels of authoritarianism = obedient
L - supports dispositional explanation
How can AP be criticised?
P - criticised for social desirability
E - ppts may have lied 🤥 to present themselves in best possible light
E - trying to minimise any facist views
L - ↓internal validity not measuring what he set out to measure
What is an alternative explanation for obedience?
P - situational factors
E - obedience due to external factors such as location and uniform
E - obedience not just due to AP
L - weakens research not sole explanation
