OBEDIENCE: SITUATIONAL VARIABLES

Question 1

Define situational variables (2)

Answer 1

In Milgram‘s research identified several factors that he believed influence the level of obedience showed by participants

they all related to external circumstances rather than to the personalities of people involved

Question 2

How did milgram investigate these situational variables

Answer 2

Altered aspects of study by changing IV to see DV while every other thing was controlled

Question 3

What were the 3 situational variables identified

Answer 3

• Proximity
  
  • Uniform
  • Location

Question 4

Define proximity (2)

Answer 4

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's studies.

Question 5

Define location

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Define uniform (2)

Answer 6

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 7

Explain research for proximity and results (3)

Answer 7

This is proximity between learner and teacher

- Force learner hand on shock plate= 30%
- Learner in same room= 40%
- Experimenter on the phone to teacher= 20.5 + 10 faked doing the shock

Distance allows them to distance psychologically for the their actions

Question 8

• Explain research for location and results

Answer 8

Conducted in rundown building rather than pristigous uni (baseline)

Obedience was 47.5% 

Obedience higher in uni as legitimate authority was expected

Question 9

Explain research for uniforms and the results + study

Answer 9

Baseline= experimenter wore lab coat

Inconvenience occurred where experimenter had to leave and was replaced by regular clothed guy=20 %

- Bickman: conducted field experiment to see how civilians would obey to 3 confederates dressed as: civilian (suit), milkman and body guard when asked to pick up litter ⇒ in New York→ natural setting

Found: ppl 2x likely to obey guard rather then others⇒ Legitimate authority

Question 10

How did Holland et al criticise the uniform variable

Answer 10

Lack internal validity⇒ without uniform participants must of figured that it was fake

Question 11

• How did Mandel criticise milgrams suggestion of SV

Answer 11

“This is situational explanation for obedience all can influence obedience”

Offensives to Holocaust survivors→ explanation is an excuse for evil behaviour

Ppl can blame situation & not their own decision⇒ suggest nazis obeying orders & situational factors that were external to them