Situational variables - AO1 Flashcards
What are the 3 variables Milgram changed?
Proximity
Location
Uniform
Proximity variation
In Milgram’s baseline study, the teacher could hear the learner, but not see him
In the proximity variation the Teacher and learner were in the same room
* Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%
In another touch proximity variaton, the teacher had to put the learner’s hand onto the electroshock plate
* Obedience rate dropped to 30%
In a remote inctruction variation, the experimenter left the room, giving instructions to the teacher by phone
* Obedience rate dropped to 20.5% (they would often pretend to give the shocks)
What does the decrease in proximity do?
Allows people to pyschologically distance themselves from their behaviour and consequences of their actions
What does the increase in proximity do?
Meant that PPs were more aware of the harm they were causng (so less obedient)
Location variation
Milgram’s study was conducted in Yale univerisity
In the location variation, the study was conducted in a run down offce block
* Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 47.5%
Why was there a decrease in obedience rate in Milgram’s location variation?
The university environement gave Milgram’s study legitmacy and authority. Obedience was still relatively high because it was still a scientific experiment - the experimenter still had authority
Uniform variation
In the baseline, the experimenter wore a grey lab coat.
In the uniform variation, the experimenter is “called away” and the role is taken by a confederate “member of public” dressed in everyday clothes
* The obedience rate dropped to 20%
Why was there a decrease in obedience rate in Milgram’s uniform variation?
Uniform encourages obedience as they are widely used in society as symbols of authority.
Sometimes dressed in a uniform is more likely to be obeyed because thier authority is legitamate - it has been granted by society
