Social Influence- Milgram, situational variables affecting obediance

Question 1

How many situational variables are there ?

Answer 1

3

Question 2

What are the 3 situational variables

Answer 2

Proximity
Location
Uniform

Question 3

Explain the situational variable proximity

Answer 3

-Awareness of how shocks are affecting Ps
-this manipulated via physical location and distance

Question 4

Figures used in to explain the situational variable proximity

Answer 4

in original study the ‘learner’ was in a separate room w/ obedience at 62.5%
-in a variation, w/ learner & teacher in same room obedience dropped to 40%
-when the teacher had to place the learners hand on a “shock plate” obedience dropped to 30%

Question 5

Explain the situational variable location

Answer 5

-legitimate authority influences how likely someone is to obey
-the original study was conducted at Yale Uni when replicated at an office block in a run down area oedicance dropped from 62.5% in original study to 47.6%

Question 6

Explain the situational variable uniform

Answer 6

-use of appropriate clothing also demonstrated the legitimacy of the authority effect
-in original study, the experimenter has a grey lab coat
-in the variation the experimenter is called away due to a ‘phone call’ and the role of the experimenter is given to another confederate in normal clothing (no uniform)
-obedience in this condition dropped to 20%

Question 7

Give the evaluative study/studies

Answer 7

Bickman

Question 8

Did Bickman’s study support or criticise Milgram’s notion of situational variables affecting obedience

Answer 8

supported

Question 9

Bickman (1974)

Answer 9

-investigated the effect of uniform worn by confederates on obedience
-the Cs asked members of the public on New York Streets to pay for a parking meter or collect trash on the street

Question 10

Results of Bickman’s study

Answer 10

-obedience was 19% when dressed in suit
-14% when dressed in milk man uniform
-38% as a security guard

Question 11

What does Bickman’s study suggest and support?

Answer 11

-supports Milgram’s og study and as a field experiment can be argued to be higher in external validity and avoid demand characteristics

Question 12

Milgram’s evaluative points

Answer 12

-can be argued some of the variations are more likely to be seen as a legitimate experiment on memory and a set up.

For example:
-the variation w/ the ‘learner’ in the room having the hand forced onto the phone would depend on acting skills.