Situational variables affecting obedience

Question 1

Key Study: Milgram 1963

Answer 1

• 40 pps
• Were told the study was how punishment affects learning
• there were two experimental confederates, an experimenter and a 47yr man who was another volunteer confederate
• PPS were always the teacher
• Teacher tested learner on ability to remember word pairs
• When they got one wrong teacher had to administer electric shocks up to 450 voltls
• if teacher asked to stop they would be advised to carry on

Question 2

Milgram 1963 Findings

Answer 2

• Psychiatrists predicted no one would pass 150 volts
• 65% went to 450
• all pps went to 300
• 12.5% stopped at 300

Question 3

Proximity

Answer 3

• Teacher and learner were seated in the same room
• Obedience rates dropped to 40% as teacher sawwhat happened to the learner
• Teacher was forced to put learner hand on shock plate which decreased obedience rates to 30%
• 21% carried on to 450 volts

Question 4

Location

Answer 4

Study took place at yale uni and so gave the pps confidence that this was legit
- When moved to a run down office block, obedience rates dropped slightly to 48%

Question 5

Power of uniform

Answer 5

• When the pps were interviewed they said they obeyed the women in uniform as it appeared she had authority