Obedience investigated by Milgram

Question 1

what was the aims of milgrams study ?

Answer 1

• to test the ‘germans are different hypothesis’ which claimed that Germans are highly obedient and that Hitler could not have exterminated the jews without the co-operation of the Germans
• to see if an individual would obey the orders of an authority figure that incurred negative

Question 2

participants

Answer 2

40 american males
aged 20-50 years old

Question 3

findings of milgram study

Answer 3

1) Quantitive results= obedience was measured as the percentage of p’s giving shocks to the maximum 450V
in the main version of experiment, obedience rate = 62.5% (25/40)
an earlier remote victim version with no pre-recorded responses but the victim was pounding on the walls instead gained an obedience rate = 65% (26/40) and 100% of p’s continued up to at least 300V
2) Qualitive results = many p’s showed distress such as twitching, sweating or giggling nervously , digging their nails into their flesh and verbally attacking the experimenter. 3p’s had uncontrollable seizures. some p’s showed little if any signs of discomfort, instead concentrated at the task

Question 4

methodological issues (6)

Answer 4

• internal validity
• external validity including
• androcentrism
• cultural bias
• historical validity
• ecological validity

Question 5

ethical issues (4)

Answer 5

• psychological harm
• deception/ informed consent
• right to withdraw
• inducement to take part