obedience: Milgram's experiment Flashcards
evaluation point: reliable
Milgram’s results have been replicated several times over the decades, which suggests the results are reliable.
evaluation point: Practical applications
Milgram’s experiments demonstrate the extent to which humans obey authority – even if doing so may be dangerous. This is a valuable psychological insight that could have beneficial applications in society. For example, there are several examples of (typically junior) doctors and nurses knowingly following orders that have injured or killed patients. Training junior doctors and nurses of the dangers of obedience (as demonstrated by Milgram’s experiments) could avoid this.
evaluation point: Unethical
the extreme stress placed upon the participants, as evidenced by the 3 who suffered seizures. However, the participants were debriefed after the study and it can be argued that the findings of the experiments are so valuable that the benefits of conducting them outweigh the distress caused to participants.
evaluation point: Methodological concerns
some psychologists have argued that many participants in Milgram’s study didn’t actually believe the shocks were real. If so, then Milgram’s findings would likely not be valid when applied to real life. However, in post-study interviews, 75% of participants said they believed the shocks were real. And further, the physiological symptoms of stress observed in many of the participants suggest they really did believe they were inflicting harm.
What is obedience?
A form of social influence where an individual follows a direct order - the person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority.
What did Milgram want to find out?
Why the German population had followed the orders of Hitler.
How many ppts took part in Milgrams study and how were they recruited?
40 ppts recruited through newspaper adverts.
What were ppts told they were taking part in?
A memory experiment.
What was the age range of ppts?
20-50 from a range of jobs.
How much were ppts offered for being in the study?
$4.50
How were ppts assigned the role of learner or teacher?
Through a rigged draw - ppts always drew ‘teacher’ and confederates always drew ‘ learner.
Who was also present in the study?
The experimenter who was an actor.
What were ppts told?
They could leave the study anytime.
What was the tecaher required to do?
Ask the learner questions - each time the learner answered with the incorrect answers they were given a shock from an electric shock machine - voltage increased with every incorrect answer.
What was the range of voltages?
15 up to 450.
When shocks reached 300 volts what did learners begin to do?
Pound on the wall begging the teacher to stop and then gave no response to the next question.
After 315 volts what did the leaner do?
Pound on the wall, scream and then fall silent.
What did experimenters tell teachers when the learners didnt answer a question?
That an absence of response should be treated as a wrong answer.
What did Milgrams want to see?
How far people would go when told by an authority figure.
What 4 prods would the tecaher use when the learner was unsure about continuing?
1 - please continue or please go on.
2 - the experiment requires that you continue.
3 - it is absolutely essential that you continue.
4 - you have no other choice you must go on.
What did students estimate would happen in the study?
No more than 3% of ppts would continue to go until 450 volts.
How many participants stopped below 300 volts?
None.
What % of ppts stopped at 300 volts?
12.5%
What % of ppts continued to the highest level of 450 volts?
65%
What qualitative data was collected form the study?
Participants showed signs of extreme tension. Many were seen to ‘sweat, tremble, stutter, bite their lips, groan and dig their finger nails into their hands.’
What did 3 ppts have in Milgrams’ study?
Full blown uncontrollable seizures.
What does data show?
Findings weren’t expected compared to predictions before the study.
What happened to all ppts after the study?
All debriefed and assured their behaviour was normal.
In a follow up questionnaire what % of ppts reported they felt glad to have participated?
84%
