Obedience

Question 1

define the term obedience

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

what is the aim of Milgrams experiment

Answer 2

investigate if individuals would obey orders of authority figure even if it leads to 👎🏼 negative consequences

Question 3

give AO1 for Milgrams study

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

what was the conclusion in Milgrams obedience

Answer 4

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

Question 5

give a RTS to Milgrams study

Answer 5

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
-

Question 6

Give a criticism of Milgrams obedience

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Give another criticism of Milgrams study

Answer 7

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 👦

Question 8

How does proximity affect obedience?

Answer 8

• how far or close learner is to authority figure
• 65%>40%
• teacher can see how behaviour was having an effect on learner

Question 9

How does location affect obedience?

Answer 9

• ✨prestigious university (Yale) to run down office 👎🏼
• fell from 65% - 48%
• amount of perceived authority was reduced

Question 10

How does uniform affect obedience?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

What is RTS SV affecting obedience?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Give a criticism of SV affecting M’s study

Answer 12

P - criticised by Mandel (1988)
E - mass killing of jews conducted in close proximity
E - M states obedience ⬆️ when uniform

Question 13

Give an alternative explanation of SV affecting obedience

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Define agentic state

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Define LOA

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

What is RTS for AG

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is research to contradict AG?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Give a strength of LOA

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Define AP

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

What is RTS for AP?

Answer 20

P - conducted by M and Elms
E - interviewed ppts asked to complete F scale
E - high levels of authoritarianism = obedient
L - supports dispositional explanation

Question 21

How can AP be criticised?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is an alternative explanation for obedience?

Answer 22

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