Situational explainations of obedience in Milgram+ E Flashcards
Definition for situational variables ?
Features of the immediate physical and social environment which may affect/ influence a response behaviour
Def 4 variable
Something that may vary/ change
What did Milgram change in his baseline study?
Proximity
Location
Uniform
Explain the Proximity variable?
In the baseline study: the teacher could hear the learner but could not see him = 65% conformity rate
When the teacher and learner were in the same room = fell from 65 to 40%
Touch proximity (they had to force their hand) = fell to 30%
When the researcher was not in the room = fell to 20.5%
Explain the location variations + statistics?
Rundown office, university setting, office block
When done in a run down office = 47.5%
Within the uni = adds legitimacy and authority = ⬆️ obedience
In an office block = still high because people recognised the scientific nature of the study
Explain the uniform variation?
+ stat
Experimenter was called away and replaced with a member of the public = fell to 20%
In the baseline study what was the experimenter wearing nd what does this do?
A grey lab coat as a symbol of authority
The uniform encourages obedience because it symbolises authority and people recognise that the person deserved obedience
Name the strengths of the theory?
- Research support
2. Cross cultural replications
Name the weaknesses of the theory?
- Low internal validity
2. Dangers of the situational perspective
P: Reasech support
S
E: Bickman (1974) conducted a similar study where he had confederates dress up in different outfits like jacket and tie, milkman’s out if and security guard and instructed people to pick up litter.
He found that people were 2X more likely to obey the person dresses a security officer.
E: TMT situational variables like uniform has a powerful effect on obedience
P: Cross cultural replications
S
E: Meeus & Raajmakers (1986) tested in a realistic manner on Dutch participants.
The obedience rates were 90% and dropped significantly when the authority figure Leif the room.
E: TMT Milgrams findings were not limited to Americans
P: Dangers of the situational perspective
W
E: Mándela argues that it offers an excuse for evil behaviour like the natzi’s. It also ignores the roles of dispositions factors.
E: TMT the research is socially sensitive and not a sufficient explanation
P: Low internal validity
W
E: Orne and Holland (1968) the extra manipulation of variables. Like the addition of the member of public.
Even Milgram acknowledged that the ppts could have worked out the truth
E: TMT It’s unclear wether the results are engine or the ppts were acting and they saw through the deception.
