Research into obedience Flashcards
who investigated obedience
MILGRAM (1963)
what was milgram’s aim of his research into obedience
to find out whether people will obey to unjust orders form a person of authority to inflict pain onto another person
what was the procedure of milgram’s research into obedience
40 male volunteers aged 20 - 50 paid $4.50 to take part in the experiment at the prestigious Yale University
-the p.t were deceived and told the study was about punishment in learning when it was actually about obedience
-a fixed draw was used so that the real p.t was always the teacher role
-the p.ts role was to administer a shock when the learner got an answer wrong
-the p.t watched the confederate get strapped in and inform the experimenter he had a heart condition
-milgram used a standardised recording of the learner reacting to shocks
-shocks were given after every incorrect answer going from 15 volts to 450 volts going up in 15v increments
-the experimenter encouraged them to continue with prods
what was the findings of milgram’s research into obedience
-100% of p.t wento to 300v on the generator
-65% of p.t went ot the full 450v
-most p.t found the experience stressful, showing signs of anxiety
what did milgram conclude from his findings in his research into obedience
-under certain circumstances, most people will obey orders that go against conscience
-when people occupy subordinate position in a dominance hierarchy they lose empathy, compassion and morality
strength of milgram’s research into obedience
P: Milgram used a controlled experiment
E: his research took place in a lab setting where standardised procedures were used for all p.t
E:This means that you can be sure that result is caused by obedience as EVs were controlled
L: This allows us to see cause and effect in that the person in authority caused obedience to happen
limitation of milgram’s research into obedience
P: Milgrams experiment lacked ecological validity
E: the experiment took place at Yale University, extremely prestigious
E: This means that p.t were more likely to obey due to the environment
L:This means they may not act this way in an everyday situation
