Obedience Flashcards
What is Milgram’s Obedience Study?
The Milgram obedience study, conducted by
psychologist Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s, is one of the most famous and controversial experiments in psychology. The study aimed to investigate the extent to which people would obey authority figures, even when their actions conflicted with their own conscience.
What was the procedure of the Milgram’s Obedience Study?
Procedure: Participants (40 people) were recruited through newspaper ads and were told that they were taking part in a study on memory and learning. They were assigned the role of “teacher” and were instructed to administer increasingly strong electric shocks to a “learner” (actually an actor) every time the learner made a mistake on a memory task. The shocks ranged from mild to severe, and the learner would express pain and eventually protest, even screaming and demanding to be released.
What was the findings of the Milgram’s Obedience Study?
Findings: Despite the distress shown by the learner, most participants continued to administer shocks when prompted by the experimenter, who encouraged them to continue with statements like “Please continue” or “The experiment requires that
you continue.” Even when participants were visibly uncomfortable, many still obeyed authority and continued shocking the learner to the highest voltage level, which was labelled as dangerous.
What were the conclusions of the Milgram’s Obedience Study?
Conclusions: Milgram’s study demonstrated the disturbing power of obedience to authority. It revealed that ordinary people were willing to obey authority figures, even when their actions conflicted with their own moral principles. The study raised important ethical concerns regarding the
psychological well-being of participants and the potential for harm in psychological research.
Why did the Participants continue the experiment?
- Perceived Authority
- Social Norms and Expectations
- Deindividuation
- Gradual Escalation
Describe the Perceived Authority and Social Norms and Expectations?
Perceived Authority: Participants were placed in a situation where they were expected to follow the instructions of an
authority figure, represented by the experimenter in a lab coat. This authority figure provided verbal prompts and
reassurance, which made it difficult for participants to disobey.
Social Norms and Expectations: Participants may have felt pressure to conform to the expectations of the experiment, especially since they were told it was important for scientific research. They might have believed that they had a social obligation, even if it caused distress.
Describe Deindividuation and Gradual Escalation
Deindividuation: Being part of a structured experiment in a formal setting might have led participants to feel a sense of anonymity or loss of personal identity. This can reduce
feelings of personal responsibility for one’s actions and increase obedience to authority.
Gradual Escalation: The shocks were administered incrementally, starting from mild discomfort and gradually increasing to levels labelled as dangerous. This gradual
escalation might have made it easier for participants to justify continuing, as they became desensitized to the increasing
severity of the shocks.
What did Milgram’s studies contribute to the understanding of obedience to authority?
Demonstrated the Power of Authority: The experiments vividly illustrated the extent to which people are willing to obey authority figures, even when it goes against their own
moral beliefs or causes harm to others. This highlighted the profound influence that authority can have on human behavior.
Challenged the “Just Following Orders” Défense: The experiments challenged the notion that individuals who commit harmful acts under the orders of authority figures are simply “following orders” and not responsible for their actions. They demonstrated that obedience to authority can lead individuals to act in ways that they might not have anticipated or condoned under different circumstances.
What ethical issues did Milgram’s experiments raise for social psychologists?
- Ethical Considerations
- Deception
- In formed Consent
- Psychological Harm
- Right to Withdraw
WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE
OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY?
- Perceived Legitimacy of Authority
- Proximity to Authority
- Degree of Responsibility
- Socialization and Upbringing
- Group Pressure
- Personal Values and Beliefs
Describe Perceived Legitimacy of Authority and Proximity to Authority
Perceived legitimacy of authority: People are more likely to obey individuals whom they perceive as legitimate authorities. Factors such as titles, uniforms, or expertise can enhance the perceived legitimacy of
authority figures.
Proximity to authority: The physical proximity of the authority figure can influence obedience. Participants in Milgram’s experiments were more likely to obey when the experimenter was physically present in the same room.
Describe Degree of Responsibility and Socialization and Upbringing
Degree of responsibility: Obedience may increase when individuals feel less personally responsible for their actions. In Milgram’s experiments, participants were more likely to obey when they could attribute responsibility for their actions to the authority figure.
Socialization and upbringing: Cultural norms and societal expectations regarding obedience to authority can influence individual behaviour. People raised in cultures that emphasize respect for authority figures may be more inclined to obey them.
Describe Group Pressure and Personal Values and Beliefs
Group pressure: Conformity to group norms can enhance obedience to authority. When individuals perceive that others are obeying the same authority figure, they may feel pressure to conform and comply as well.
Personal values and beliefs: Individual differences in personality traits, moral values, and ethical principles can affect obedience. People with strong moral convictions or a sense of autonomy may be less likely to obey authority figures when their commands conflict with their values.
