Power of authority - milgram 1963

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

who would obey perceived legitimate authority figures

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• lab experiment at yale university
• 40 male volunteers, 20-50 years old
• naive participant was the teacher
• 2 confederates ~ learner and experimenter
• the teacher was given prods to carry on

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• all participants obeyed to at least 300 volts
• 65% went all the way up to 450 volts
• 12% stopped at 300 volts
• some participants showed extreme tension

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

people will obey authority even when they know what they are doing is wrong

Question 5

Situational variable - Proximity

Answer 5

• the physical closeness
• orders were given over a telephone
• obedience levels dropped to 20.5%
• people were less likely to obey

Question 6

Situational variable - location

Answer 6

• setting or environment
• yale vs run down office block
• obedience dropped to 48%
• challenges legitimacy of authority

Question 7

Situational variables - uniform

Answer 7

• clothing worn
• Bickman 1974 ~ security guard vs normal clothes
• security guard ~ 82%
• normal clothes ~ 36%
• challenges legitimacy of authority