situational variables that affect obedience Flashcards
What were Milgrams situational variables?
Proximity
Authority
Location
What are Milgrams situational variables related to?
External circumstances rather than personality
What does proximity refer to?
Physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving orders to
What happened to the obedience level when the teacher and the learner were in the same room?
65% TO 40%
What happened when the experimenter was out of the room giving instructions over the phone?
(Remote proximity) - obedience dropped to 20.5% as pretended to give shock
What happened when the teacher had to force learners hand to shock plate?
(Touch proximity) - Obedience dropped to 30%
What happened to the obedience level when the teacher and the learner where at a run down office?
65% TO 47.5%
What does location refer to?
The place where and order is issued
What does authority refer to?
People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority
What happened to the obedience level when the experimenter wore ordinary clothes?
65% TO 20%
Milgrams Aim
to see if people would obey even if it goes against morality
Milgrims Procedure
Milgram’s study on obedience involved 40 participants deceived into a learning and punishment study. They administered escalating electric shocks (up to 450 volts) to a confederate, showing compliance to authority and manipulation through prompts to continue despite objections.
Milgrims findings
- 26/40 ppts went up to 450v
- no one stopped before 300v
- qualitative data: ppts also showed signs of distress
Milgrims conclusion
most people would obey an authority figure even if it goes against their moral code
Affect of Location being moved to a run down office
48%
