Social Influence: Milgram & Situational Variables Affecting Obedience

Question 1

Define obedience

Answer 1

Where somebody acts in response to a direct order (1) from a perceived authority figure (1)

Question 2

What is the key term for the following definition?

When someone reacts to a direct order from a perceived authority figure

Answer 2

Obedience

Question 3

Which key researcher investigated if individuals would obey the orders of an authority figure, even if it led to negative consequences?

Answer 3

Milgram

Question 4

What did Milgram AIM to investigate in his original study?

Answer 4

If individuals would obey the orders of an authority figure, even if it led to negative consequences

Question 5

Who conducted a lab experiment at Yale University?

Answer 5

Milgram

Question 6

What experimental method did Milgram use in his original obedience research and where did he conduct it?

Answer 6

Lab experiment at Yale University

Question 7

Who were Milgram’s sample in his original obedience research?

Answer 7

40 American males aged 20-50

Question 8

Who studied 40 American males aged 20-50? Were they investigating obedience or conformity?

Answer 8

Milgram investigating obedience

Question 9

What was the teacher’s role (the real participant) in Milgram’s original experiment?

Answer 9

Deliver electric shocks to the learner

Question 10

Who delivered electric shocks to the learner in Milgram’s original experiment?

Answer 10

The teacher (the participant)

Question 11

What role did the confederate (fake participant) play in Milgram’s original obedience research?

Answer 11

The learner

Question 12

In Milgram’s experiment, the learner was a fake participant. What is the key term for this?

Answer 12

A confederate

Question 13

The shocks on the machine in Milgram’s research ranged from 15 volts to?

Answer 13

450 volts

Question 14

The maximum voltage on Milgram’s shock machine was?

Answer 14

450 volts

Question 15

What voltage did the shocks begin at on Milgram’s electric shock machine?

Answer 15

15 volts

Question 16

The experimenter in Milgram’s researcher was giving orders to the teacher. What was the experimenter perceived as?

Answer 16

An authority figure

Question 17

Who was the perceived authority figure in Milgram’s research?

Answer 17

The experimenter

Question 18

The experimenter used prompts if the ‘teacher’ (participant) refused to shock the learner. Name two prompts the experimenter used.

Answer 18

• “Please continue (or please go on).”
• “The experiment requires that you continue.”
• “It is absolutely essential that you continue.”
• “You have no other choice; you must go on.”

Question 19

What voltage did ALL participants in Milgram’s original study go up to when shocking the learners?

Answer 19

300 volts

Question 20

What percentage of participants went to at least 300 volts in Milgram’s original obedience research?

Answer 20

100%/ All participants

Question 21

What percentage of teachers (participants) went to the maximum 450 volts when shocking the learners in Milgram’s original study?

Answer 21

65%

Question 22

65% of participants went to what voltage on the electric shock machine when shocking learners in Milgram’s original obedience research?

Answer 22

450 volts

Question 23

What percentage of teachers (participants) stopped shocking learners at 300 volts in Milgram’s original research?

Answer 23

12.5%

Question 24

12.5% of the teachers (participants) in Milgram’s original research did what?

Answer 24

stopped shocking learners at 300 volts

Question 25

Name three situational variables that affect obedience

Answer 25

location

proximity

uniform

Question 26

Proximity, location and uniform are all examples of what?

Answer 26

Situational variables affecting obedience

Question 27

In Milgram’s original experiment obedience rates were 65% these dropped to what percentage when the experimenter left the room and gave instructions by telephone?

Answer 27

20.5%

Question 28

In the proximity condition of Milgram’s research, what did he change when obedience levels dropped to 20.5%?

Answer 28

The experimenter left the room and gave orders to the teacher over the telephone

Question 29

What situational variable affecting obedience is being investigated when the experimenter left the room and gave orders to the teacher over the telephone?

Answer 29

proximity

Question 30

How did Milgram investigate location as a situational variable affecting obedience?

Answer 30

The location was changed from a prestigious university to a run-down office

Question 31

What situational variable is Milgram investigating when he changes the experiment from a prestigious university to a run down office?

Answer 31

Location

Question 32

What did the obedience rate drop from and to when the location of Milgram’s research changed to a run down office?

Answer 32

65% to 48%

Question 33

Why do obedience rates drop to 20.5% when the experimenter leaves the room and gives orders to the teacher over the phone?

Answer 33

The closer an authority figure is to an individual, the more perceived authority they have and the more obedient that individual will be.

Question 34

Why did obedience levels drop when the location of Milgram’s research changed to a run down office?

Answer 34

The amount of perceived authority the experimenter had was reduced meaning individuals were less likely to obey