Obedience Flashcards
What is obedience?
A type of social influence where someone acts in response to a direct order from another person. The person who gives the order is perceived to have legitimate authority and so the order is complied with
What are the three differences between obedience and conformity?
Obedience involves a direct order but conformity is in order to go along with group norms. Obedience involves people of different status but conformity is people of a similar status. Obedience is people having power to follow instructions whereas conformity is the psychological need to be accepted by others
Who researched obedience?
Milgram
What was the sample of the study?
40 American male volunteers aged 20-50
What is the method of this study?
The participant was allocated as the teachers and the confederate as the learner. The learner was attached to a shock generator and if the learner gave the wrong answer the teacher gave them a shock from 15-450 volts
What were the findings of this study?
All participants gave 300 volt shocks but 65% continued to give shocks up to 450 volts. They experienced great deal of stress and anxiety
What was the conclusion of this study?
Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figures, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being
What are the five variations of the study?
Another teacher refuses to five the shock, experimenter wore everyday clothes, teacher presses learners hand onto shock plate, close proximity and location moved
What are two strengths of Milgrams experiment?
It was done under controlled conditions and standardised procedures were used
What are two limitations of Milgrams experiment?
There are ethical aspects and the study lacks ecological validity
How was there deception in Milgrams study?
The participants believed the aim was about punishment and learning, the learner was a confederate and the teachers believed they were giving electric shocks
How did Milgram try to deal with deception?
Participants received a very thorough debrief and 84% said that they were glad to have taken part
How was there no informed consent in Milgrams study?
The participants were deceived therefore they were not fully informed about the true aim so they did not give informed consent
How was there no protection of participants in Milgrams study?
Many participants were visibly shaken after the experiment, some had nervous laughing fits and one had a convulsive seizure
How did Milgram deal with the protection of participants?
A through debrief was carried out and all participants received psychiatric assessment, none showing signs of long term damage
