Obedience: Situational Variables Flashcards
What were Milgrams situational variables?
- Proximity
- Authority
- Location
What are Milgrams situational variables related to?
External circumstances rather than personality
What does proximity refer to?
Physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving orders to
What happened to the obedience level when the teacher and the learner were in the same room?
65% TO 40%
What happened when the experimenter was out of the room giving instructions over the phone?
(Remote proximity) - obedience dropped to 20.5% as pretended to give shock
What happened when the teacher had to force learners hand to shock plate?
(Touch proximity) - Obedience dropped to 30%
What happened to the obedience level when the teacher and the learner where at a run down office?
65% TO 47.5%
What does location refer to?
The place where and order is issued
What does authority refer to?
People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority
What happened to the obedience level when the experimenter wore ordinary clothes?
65% TO 20%
Evaluation of controlled variables:
- GOOD
- Easier to replicate
- Replicated in other cultures with similar responses
- Not as limited by sample choice
- Robust phenomenon
Evaluation of Internal Validity:
Manipulation of location or uniform may have causes a rise in demand characteristics
What evaluation point is the ‘obedience’ albi?
-Offensive to remove the personal responsibility of the Nazis actions
