Research into obedience(Milgram) Flashcards
What is obedience
Form of social influence where a person follows a direct order from an authority figure who can punish others
Aim of Milgram’s study
To see if normal Americans would obey and inflict harm on innocent people
Milgram’s procedure
40 male participants(volunteered through newspaper and paid $5)
Yale University
Participants told that it was a memory study and roles were randomly allocated
However, fixed draw - Participant = teacher Confederate = Learner
Learner was attached to electrodes/shock generator(shocks were not real but participants think it is)
Shock generator went from 15 volts to 450 volts
Participant told to read out pairs of words and shock learners if they get the answer wrong(increasing voltage each time)
Participant given 4 prods if they asked for advice:
“Please continue”
“The experiment requires that you continue”
“It is essential that you continue”
“You have no choice, you must go on”
Participants were released if all prods are used
Milgram’s results
180 volts - Learner shouted that they couldn’t stand the pain
300 volts - Learner begged to be released
315 volts - Learner went silent
All participants went up to 300 volts
65% went up to 450 volts
Participants showed signs of distress e.g sweating/trembling
Milgram’s conclusion
Under certain circumstances, most people will obey orders, even if it is to inflict pain on others
A03’s for Milgram’s study
Lacks realism - Artificial task (Counter - Hofling et al’s study on nurses. 21/22 nurses obeyed unjust demands)
Participants were play acting - Orne and Holland( Counter - Participants showed signs of distress)
Ethical issues - Participants were deceived/not protected from harm
Lab experiment - High control of extraneous variables so high internal validity
Issues and debates for Milgram’s study
Gender bias (beta)Can’t be applied to females as it uses only males
