Role of situational actors as explanations for obedience

Question 1

name them

Answer 1

proximity, uniform, location

Question 2

Proximity def

Answer 2

can refer to how close person is to consequences of their actions OR to their authority figure

Question 3

Proximity research evidence

Answer 3

Milgram found that:

• when the teacher and learner were brought into the same room, obedience dropped to 40%.

Question 4

Uniform def

Answer 4

A uniform can give the perception of greater authority, because give the impression person is part of powerful institution or law enforcement etc

Question 5

Uniform research evidence

Answer 5

Bickman (1974) found that 92% of pedestrians obeyed an order to give a stranger money for a parking meter when the person giving the order was dressed as a security guard, compared to only 49% when he as dressed in ordinary clothes.

Question 6

Location definition

Answer 6

Location can have an effect on obedience rates because some locations increase the perceived legitimacy of the authority figure. Milgram’s study had a high amount of perceived authority because he was attached to a very prestigious institution (Yale University).

Question 7

location research evidence

Answer 7

Milgram found that when he moved his procedure to a seedy office and the experimenter was apparently just a member of the public, the obedience rate dropped from 65% to 48%.