Paper 1- Social influence Part 3

Question 1

Define obedience

Answer 1

Acting in a particular way because of an order from an authority figure

Question 2

What are psychologists interested in finding out about obedience?

Answer 2

Reasons why we as humans obedience orders from an authority figure, and explanations concern either factors about the situation that lead to obedience or dispositinal factors

Question 3

What psychologists wanted to find out about why the holocaust happened?

Answer 3

Milgram in 1963

Question 4

What was the psychologists aim?

Answer 4

To investigate obedience to an authority figure using a laboratory based procedure

Question 5

Explain Milgrams’ study

Answer 5

1. Took place at Yale University. Ppts were greeted by experimenter in a grey lab coat. (The pmts volunteered to take part). Told that experiment was concerned with the effects of punishment on learner.
2. Draw carried out to see who would be teacher/ learner. (ppt always teacher)
3. Teacher put in separate rooms with shock generator, they ranged from, 15-450 volts, verbal descriptions were underneath each number
4. Teacher had to test learner on word pairs and every time they made a mistake they would be shocked
5. Beforehand teacher was given a 45 volt shock

Question 6

What was the conclusion of Milgrams’ study?

Answer 6

Ordinary people are capable of flowing orders even if these could result in killing another person

Question 7

What are the results of Milgrams’ study?

Answer 7

Students of Yale University were asked before study how many volts do they think pmts would go to, they predicted 150. In the experiment 65% went up to 450 but all went to at least 300

Question 8

What were the consequences of the procedure?

Answer 8

> A lot of nervous tension displayed through laughs

> Physical tension through sweating and constantly asking for reassurance from experimenter

> One ppt had epileptic fit

Question 9

What is the Legitimacy of authority?

Answer 9

Individuals who’re obedient, accept power and status of authority figures to give orders (seen as in charge)
Links to agency theory that individuals are socialised to recognise the value of obedience to authority figures as helping to keep stability in society
Even as very young we experience examples of social roles e.g parent, teacher etc. This is where we learn that in the social hierarchy, people who are higher than us should be obeyed.

Milgram showed that it is not the disposition of people that causes the war but that obedience to authority can be a powerful factor in causing anyone to behave in an out of character way.