SOCIAL INFLUENCE — OBEDIENCE

Question 1

Define obedience

Answer 1

Acting in response to a direct order from a figure of perceived authority.

Question 2

Milgram’s method and sample

Answer 2

Lab experiment at Yale University

Volunteer sample of 40 American males ages 20-50

Question 3

What were some prompts the researchers used in Milgram’s study?

Answer 3

“You have no other choice; you must go on”

“Please continue”

Question 4

Milgram’s findings

Answer 4

100% of participants went to 300V

12.5% stopped there

65% went all the way to 450V

Question 5

Milgram’s conclusions

Answer 5

Ordinary people can be obedient to authority when asked to behave inhumanely.

It is not necessarily only evil people who commit evil crimes, but regular people who are simply obeying orders.

Question 6

Milgram variation: PROXIMITY

Answer 6

Original (researcher in room) — 65%

Touch proximity (participant forced learner’s hand onto shock plate) — 30%

Researcher leaves and gives instructions over phone — 20.5%

Question 7

Milgram variation — LOCATION

Answer 7

Prestigious location (Yale University) — 65%

Run-down office — 48%

Question 8

Milgram variation — UNIFORM

Answer 8

Grey lab coat — 65%

Researcher leaves + replaced by someone in regular clothing — 20%