Role of situational actors as explanations for obedience Flashcards
name them
proximity, uniform, location
Proximity def
can refer to how close person is to consequences of their actions OR to their authority figure
Proximity research evidence
Milgram found that:
• when the teacher and learner were brought into the same room, obedience dropped to 40%.
Uniform def
A uniform can give the perception of greater authority, because give the impression person is part of powerful institution or law enforcement etc
Uniform research evidence
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.
Location definition
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).
location research evidence
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%.