Obedience / Milgram

Question 1

Obedience to authority

Answer 1

Someone acts in response to a direct order from a figure with perceived authority. They may respond in a way that they would have not done without the order

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To investigate if individual would obey the orders of an authority figure even if this led to negative consequences.

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Laboratory Experiment at Yale University

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

40 American males aged 20 - 50

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

PPTS assigned the role of teacher and the confederate was always the learner.
Teacher’s job was to give a learning task and deliver electric shocks to learner if they got the answer wrong.
Shocks began at 15 volts and the maximum of 450 volts.
Experimenter used prompts if the teacher refused
“please continue”
“you have no other choice; you must go on”

Question 6

Findings

Answer 6

All PPTS went to at least 300 volts with only 12.5% stopping at that point
65% of ppts continued to the maximum 450 volts