Obedience: Situational Variables AO1

Question 1

Situational Variables

Answer 1

• Features of the immediate physical and social environment
• Influence a persons behaviour

Question 2

What is Proximity

Answer 2

• Physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to.

Question 3

What is Location

Answer 3

• The place where an order is isued
• Satus or prestige associated with location influences obedience

Question 4

What is Uniform

Answer 4

• Specific outfit which is symbolic of a persons authority
• Indicated they’re entitled to expect our obedience

Question 5

Describe the proximity in Milgram’s original study.

Answer 5

• Teacher could hear learner but not see them

Question 6

Describe Milgram’s proximity variation and the findings

Answer 6

• Teacher ad learner were in the same room
• Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%

Touch Variation:
- Teacher forced learners hand onto electroshock plate if they refused to do so themselves after giving wrong answer
- Obedience dropped to 30%

Remote Instruction Variation:
- Experimenter left room and gave instructions to teacher by telephone
- Obedience reduced to 20.5%

Decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from consequences of their actions

Question 7

Describe Milgram’s location variation and the findings

Answer 7

• Variation in run down office block
• Obediance fell to 47.5%

Question 8

Describe Milgram’s uniform variation and the findings