Situational factors - Milgram Flashcards
What were the situational factors that Milgram believed made obedience more likely?
Proximity, buffers, symbol of authority, gradual commitment
Where is proximity demonstrated?
In variation 10 - telephone instructions
What is a buffer? Where was it shown in Milgram’s study?
Increases obedience because it means that ppl feel less responsibility for their actions
Different rooms acted as buffer in Milgram’s experiment- couldnt see who they were shocking
Where was symbol of authority shown in Milgram’s study?
The uniform worn by experimenter demonstrated his authority to ppts
He was associated with Yale uni + wearing lab coat
Where was gradual commitment shown in Milgram’s study?
Milgram knew ppts wouldnt commit to giving 450V straight away so started with asking ppts to give smaller shocks + increase by 15V
Ppts obeying gradually + by end didnt feel like they could say no
What evidence supports Milgram’s study of obedience?
Shanab + Yahya (1978) - Found obedience is universal + found in every culture, possibly due to authority figures being present everywhere, making 62% obey
What is an application of situational factors?
Holocaust Memorial Day = Germans more likely to obey since Nazis wore uniforms, showing authority figures
