obedience: situational variables Flashcards
AO1: proximity variation
baseline: teacher could hear but not see the learner
variation: teacher and learner in same room. Obedience level dropped
remote instructions variation: experimenter left room and gave instructions via the phone. Obedience levels dropped
close proximity allowed people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions
AO1: location
baseline: conducted in yale uni
variation: run down office block. Obedience levels dropped
prestigious uni environment gave the study legitimacy and authority
AO1: uniform
baseline: experimenter wore grey lab coat
variation: experimenter replaced with ‘random member of public’ in everyday clothes. obedience dropped
uniforms encourage obedience because widely recognised symbol of authority
AO3: strength- replicated in other cultures
P: replicated in other cultures
E: in Dutch participants were ordered to say stressful things in an interview to someone desperate for a job.
E: when the person telling them to do this wasn’t present, obedience decreased
L; shows his findings aren’t limited to Americans and males
HOWEVER, there was only 2 non western countries were replication research was done in the span of 30 years. Not appropriate to generalise findings to non western countries. Suggests it may actually be culturally biased
AO3: strength- research support
P: research support
E: field experiment in NY, 3 confederated dressed in different outfits. A milkman, security guard and man in suit and tie. Asked members of public to pick up a piece of litter
E: people twice as likely to obey security guard than suit & tie man
L: shows support for the effects of uniform when it comes to obedience
AO3: limitation- demand characteristics
P: demand characteristics
E: participants were aware that the procedure was fake
E: unclear if findings are genuine
L: low internal validity
AO3: limitation- danger of situational perspective
P: danger of situational perspective
E: criticised because it offers an excuse for evil behaviour
E: offensive to holocaust survivors to suggest Nazis were simply obeying order. As well as ignoring dispositional factors
