Obedience: Situational variables

Question 1

Situational variables

Answer 1

Milgram identified several factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by participants. They are all related to the external circumstances rather than to the personalities of the people involved

Question 2

Proximity

Answer 2

physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to. Also refers to the physical closeness of the teacher to the victim (learner) in Milgram studies

Question 3

Location

Answer 3

the place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location

Question 4

Uniform

Answer 4

people in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority, for example police officers and judges. This indicates to the rest of us who is entitled to expect our obedience.

Question 5

Example of proximity in Milgram study

Answer 5

the teacher and learner were in adjoining rooms so the teacher could hear the learner but not see him. In the proximity variation, the were in the same room.
- obedience dropped from 65% to 40%

Question 6

Example of location in Milgram study

Answer 6

conducted in a run-down building rather than the prestigious university setting where it was originally conducted.
- obedience fell to 47.5% from 65%

Question 7

Example of uniform in Milgram study

Answer 7

in original experimenter wore grey lab coat as a symbol of authority
role of experimenter was taken over by an ‘ordinary member of the public’ in everyday clothes rather than a lab coat
- obedience rate fell to 20%