Situational variables affecting obedience Flashcards
define situational variables
external factors which influence levels of obedience
state the three situational variables Milgram implemented in his obedience study variations
- proximity
- location
- uniform
describe the variations Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of proximity
- teacher and learner in the same room
- teacher holding learners hand on the shock plate
- experimenter gave orders to the teacher over the phone
describe the effect that the variations of proximity had on obedience
- teacher and learner in the same room- obedience dropped to 40%
- teacher holding learners hand on the shock plate- obedience dropped to 30%
- experimenter gives orders over the phone- obedience dropped to 20.5%
describe the variation Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of location
the study was conducted in a run-down office as opposed to Yale University
describe the effect that location had on obedience
when in a run-down office- obedience dropped to 47.5%
describe the variation Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of uniform
the experimenter was replaced midway through the experiment with an ordinary member of public dressed in everyday clothes
describe the effect that uniform had on obedience
when experimenter was replaced by someone in everyday clothes- 20%
outline three conditions in which obedience would be maximised
- the person giving orders is wearing a uniform
- the person giving orders is within a close proximity
- the location where the orders are being is prestigious
explain why Mandel (1998) believes that situational variables are offensive to Holocaust survivors
He argues that situational variables offers an excuse or ‘alibi’ for engaging in evil behaviour- in his view it is offensive to survivors of the Holocaust to suggest the Nazis were simply obeying orders and were victims themselves of situational factors beyond their control
