obedience - situational variables

Question 1

three situational variables that affect obedience

Answer 1

location, proximity, uniform

Question 2

how did Milgram test proximity

Answer 2

In the proximity variation, the learner and the teacher were in the same room. The obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%. In another proximity variation, the experimenter left the room and gave instructions to the teacher by telephone. Obedience dropped to 20% and pps frequently pretended to give shocks or gave weaker ones

Question 3

Milgrams test of location

Answer 3

He conducted the study in a run down building rather than at Yale university where it was originally set. In this situation, the experimenter had less authority. Obedience fell from 65% to 47%

Question 4

milgrams test of uniform

Answer 4

In the original study, experimenter wore a grey labcoat as a symbol of his authority (a uniform). In a variation, the role of the experimenter was taken over by an ordinary member of the public (confederate) in everyday clothes rather than a lab coat. The obedience rate dropped to 20%

Question 5

research support for Milgrams variations.

Answer 5

Bickman did a field experiment to demonstrate the influence of these situational variables. Had three confederates dress in three different outfits - jacket and tie, milkmans outfit, security guard uniform. Stood in the street and asked people to perform meaningless tasks such as picking up litter. People were twice as likely to obey the security guard outfit than the jacket and tie.

Question 6

weakness of Milgrams study (validity)

Answer 6

many pps worked out procedure was fake and didn’t think they were producing real electric shocks. Demand characteristocs