Obedience: Situational Factors Flashcards
Define ‘gradual commitment’.
When an individual is asked to perform a seemingly harmless task, and so finds it harder to refuse tasks that escalate to something more serious.
Using a study, give an example of gradual commitment.
Milgram asked the ppts to administer shocks for every wrong answer, increasing by 15V each time and so the increase from 15-450V would seem less drastic.
What is the name given to the first process of gradual commitment?
The ‘foot in the door’ effect
Use gradual commitment to explain events in WW2
The Nazis were asked to perform tasks that gradually increased in severity, leading up to killing Jewish people in the gas chambers.
How does proximity affect the level of obedience?
The closer the authority figure, the more obedient an individual is likely to be.
What is the difference between ‘physical proximity’ and ‘psychological proximity’.
Physical = distance between the individual and authority figure Psychological = how aware the individual is of the authority figure's position
How did Hitler maintain both types of proximity with his followers?
Physical = he had guards patrolling the streets so that everyone was reminded of his authority Psychological = his propaganda withheld the idea of his power and authority, alongside his control over the majority of the German population
Define a ‘buffer’ in terms of social psychology
Any aspect of a situation that protects people from seeing the consequences of their actions.
Give an example of a buffer in Milgram’s study and Adolf Eichmann’s actions in WW2.
Milgram = the wall separating the learner and teacher stopped the teacher from seeing the affects of his shocks to the learner. Eichmann = though he gave the order for millions of Jews to be exterminated, he never actually witnessed the consequences.
How does location affect obedience?
A prestigious/unfamiliar location adds to the credibility of the authority figure giving orders. A familiar location would make the individual feel more relaxed and so more likely to disobey.
How did the use of uniform affect Milgram’s study?
The experimenter wore a lab coat which indicated that he possessed scientific expertise and so would have increased obedience as he was considered a legitimate authority figure.
Which variation of Milgram’s experiment supports the idea of uniform playing an important part in obedience?
The ‘Ordinary Man Gives Orders’ variation as there was a significant increase in disobedience when the legitimacy of the experimenter was removed.
Why does group pressure change the level of obedience?
When a group norm has been established (obedience/disobedience) an individual will likely conform to this norm so that they don’t stand out.
How does accountability affect obedience?
When an individual feels responsible for the consequences of their obedience to authority they are more likely to disobey. Differing this responsibility to the authority figure makes the individual more likely to carry out extreme orders.
Give 3 examples that create ideal circumstances for obedience.
- Uniform that suggests legitimacy
- An intimidating/unfamiliar environment
- When a large amount of people are conforming
- When the authority figure is within close proximity
- When an individual feels as though they are not directly responsible for the consequences
