Situational factors affecting Obedience

Question 1

What is the first factor affecting obedience?

Answer 1

Proximity of authority/victim.
* when the teacher and learner were in the same room, obedience dropped to 40%

Question 2

What is the second factor affecting obedience?

Answer 2

Location
* when the venue moved to a rundown office block, obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 3

What is the third factor affecting obedience?

Answer 3

Uniform
* when the study was taken over by an ordinary man, obedience fell to 20%

Question 4

How does uniform affect obedience?

Answer 4

Uniform reinforces their legitimacy and conveys that they are in a position of authority, and so are entitled to expect obedience.

Question 5

How does location affect obedience?

Answer 5

We associate prestigious settings with lawfulness & legitimacy.

Question 6

How does proximity of authority affect obedience?

Answer 6

It is easier to resist obedience if we are not face to face with authority.
* when the experimenter left room and gave remote instructions, obedience fell to 20.5%

Question 7

How does proximity of the victim affect obedience?

Answer 7

Less guilt held if we are unable to see the consequence of our actions.
* when the teacher forced the learners hand onto the shock plate, obedience fell to 30%