Obedience: situational variables

Question 1

what are some strengths of situational variables affecting obedience

Answer 1

• research support: Bickman
• cross-cultural replication of Milgram’s research/research support

Question 2

what research supports the influence of situational variables on obedience

Answer 2

Bickman

Question 3

what did Bickman find

Answer 3

• confederates were dressed either as a milkman. security guard or in a suit and asked members of the public in New York to do some tasks for them
• found that people were twice more likely to obey to the confederate dressed as a security guard than the one dressed as a milkman

Question 4

what do Bickman’s findings how

Answer 4

• shows that uniform which is a situational variable, has a powerful effect on levels of obedience as it portrays a higher status and generates respect

Question 5

what did Meeus research find

Answer 5

• Meeus found 90% of Dutch participants obeyed when given an order to say stressful comments to interviewees
• also found that when proximity decreased and the person giving orders was not present, the rate of obedience fell

Question 6

what did Meeus research show

Answer 6

• shows Milgram’s findings are not limited to American males but are valid across cultures hence cross-cultural replication
• also provides support for proximity affecting obedience

Question 7

what research shows cross-cultural replication of Milgram’s findings and provides research support for proximity

Answer 7

Meeus

Question 8

what is a counterpoint for Meeus evaluation point

Answer 8

Smith & Bond found that most replications of Milgram’s research took place in societies not that different from the US so we cannot conclude that Milgram’s findings about proximity, location and uniform can apply to people of all cultures

Question 9

what is a limitation of situational variables affecting obedience

Answer 9

low internal validity

Question 10

who showed that studies into situational variables have a low internal validity

Answer 10

Orne & Holland

Question 11

what did Orne & Holland suggest

Answer 11

• they suggested that the variations where uniform, location an proximity were altered, were even more likely to trigger suspicion from the participants because of the extra experimental manipulation
• in one variation the experimenter was replaced by a member of the public and even Milgram agreed that this was so suspicious that some participants may have worked it out

Question 12

what did Orne & Holland conclude

Answer 12

• it is unclear whether the results of the variations were due to obedience or because the participants worked out the aim and displayed demand characteristics
• results not accurate