Social Influence (Milgram's Experiment)

Question 1

What is obedience??

Answer 1

A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority with the power to punish disobedient behaviour!

Question 2

When was Milgram’s experiment and what was his aim??

Answer 2

1963
To investigate how much pain a person would inflict on another person when instructed by an authority figure!

Question 3

Who were the type of ppts in Milgram’s experiment and what type of experiment was it?

Answer 3

American males
Lab experiment

Question 4

Summarise Milgram’s experiment!

Answer 4

• ppts were told to read out questions to a confederate who is attached to an electric shock machine
• everytime he got it wrong (as instructed to), the ppt had to increase the voltage of the shock
• highest shock was 450V (lethal)

Question 5

In Milgram’s experiment, how many ppts went up to 450V and how many went up to 300V?

Answer 5

450V - 65%
300V - 100%

Question 6

What were Milgram’s conclusions??

Answer 6

People will obey authority figures when told to do something, even if it’s harmful.
People obey either out of fear or out of a desire to appear cooperative

Question 7

Describe the Generalisability and the Reliability of Milgram’s experiment!

Answer 7

Not generalisable: only males participated, unrepresentative

High reliability: controlled environment so easy to replicate

Question 8

Describe the application and validity of Milgram’s experiment!

Answer 8

Low application: not everyday environment and behaviours wouldn’t be done in real life

High internal validity: controlled conditions, standardised procedure

Question 9

Discuss the ethics of Milgram’s experiment!

Answer 9

Protection from harm: ppts put under stress of hurting someone

Deception: told a different aim (that it was to help the confederate remember words)

Question 10

What did One & Holland (1968) say about Milgram’s experiment??

Answer 10

Ppts didn’t believe in the set up

Question 11

What did Gina Perry (2013) say about Milgram’s experiment??

Answer 11

Many ppts reported doubts that the shocks were real (low internal validity)

Question 12

Who provided a counter argument to Gina Perry (2013) and Ome & Holland (1968) about Milgram’s Experiment and what was it?

Answer 12

Sheridan & King (1972): conducted an experiment where ppts had to deliver real shocks to a puppy. 54% males and 100% females obeyed.
-> high external validity
Milgram’s findings and labs appear to be a true reflection of authority relationships in real life.

Question 13

What did Hoffing et al (1966) say that supported Milgram’s research??

Answer 13

21 out of 22 nurses obeyed when taking orders over the phone from an unknown doctor to give double doses of morphine to patients. Shows that obedience takes place in real life settings!

Question 14

What were Milgram’s 3 variations??

Answer 14

• Proximity
• Location
• Uniform

Question 15

What were the statistics for the variations of proximity, location and uniform??

Answer 15

Researcher in different room - 40%
Rundown building - 47.5%
Everyday clothes - 20%

Question 16

What was 1 strength of Milgram’s study??

Answer 16

Milgram maintained high levels of control in each variation. He altered only one variable at a time and used 1000 ppts in total

Question 17

What were 2 weaknesses of Milgram’s study??

Answer 17

• Cross-cultural replications - Miranda et. al (1981) found 90% of Spanish students obeyed. Therefore obedience is not limited to American males
• Mandel (1998) states that saying the Nazis were simply obeying orders due to situational variables is offensive to survivors of the Holocaust.