Obedience - Situational variables

Question 1

Proximity

Answer 1

• Physical closeness of an authority figure to the person they are giving the order to
• In Milgram’s original study teacher could hear learner but not see them
• In proximity study - learner and teacher were in the same room
• Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%
• Decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions

Question 2

Location

Answer 2

• Original study was conducted in a run down office block - in this location obedience dropped to 47.5%
• They changed the location to the university setting - gave Milgram’s study legitimacy and authority
• p’s more obedient in this location

Question 3

Uniform

Answer 3

• In baseline procedure - experimenter wore a grey lab coat as a symbol of authority
• In one variation- experimenter was called away and a normal person took their place - obedience rate dropped to 20%
• Uniforms encourage obedience because they they are recognised as symbols of authority

Question 4

Situational variables - evaluation - strength

Answer 4

• Research support
• in a field experiment researchers had c’s dress in 3 different outfits (jacket+tie, milkmans outfit and a security guards uniform) - c’s stood in street and asked people to pick up litter or hand over a coin for a parking meter
• people more likely to obey security guard than one dressed in a jacket+tie
• shows situational variables have a powerful effect on obedience

Question 5

Situational variables - evaluation - limitation

Answer 5

• Low internal validity
• p’s may be aware procedure was fake
• criticism of baseline but more likely in variations due to extra manipulation of variables
• e.g when a normal person replaces the experimenter
• so unclear whether findings are due to obedience or because the p’s saw through the deception and play-acted