Social Influence - Obedience

Question 1

who did research into obedience?

Answer 1

Stanley Milgram

Question 2

Briefly what were the procedures of milligrams study?

Answer 2

40 men volunteered. pps was always the teacher and the confederate: Mr Wallace was the learner. Mr Wallace was attached to electrodes giving an apparent electric shock.

Question 3

what happened when the pps and Mr Wallace were separated in different rooms?

Answer 3

pps had to give increasingly electric shocks when Mr Wallace incorrectly learnt the word pairs. electric shocks were all fake.

Question 4

when the volts hit 315 what did Mr Wallace pretend to do?

Answer 4

shout and pound on the wall, then fell silent and gave no answers

Question 5

what did the researcher, wearing a white lab coat do if the participant asked to stop or asked to check on Mr Wallace?

Answer 5

scripted instructions

Question 6

what percentage of participants gave shocks up to 450 volts? (maximum level of electric shock)

Answer 6

65%

Question 7

what percentage of participants gave electric shocks up to 300 volts?

Answer 7

100%

Question 8

how did participants behave in this study?

Answer 8

stressed, cried, anxiety, seizures

Question 9

what conclusion can we make about Milgram’s study?

Answer 9

people find it difficult to refuse to obey someone who has legitimate authority

Question 10

what 3 situational variables did milgram research in to?

Answer 10

1. proximity (how close they were)
2. location
3. uniform

Question 11

proximity: how many pps still gave maximum voltage when mr Wallace and themselves were in the same room?

Answer 11

40%

Question 12

proximity: how many pps still gave maximum voltage when the researcher gave instructions on the phone?

Answer 12

21% - further away authority figure, less likely to obey

Question 13

location: original location was Yale university (gave confidence in authority figure) so how many pps gave maximum voltage in a ‘shabby office’

Answer 13

48%

Question 14

uniform: original- lab coat so how many pps gave maximum voltage when researcher was replaced with confederate with everyday clothes?

Answer 14

20%

Question 15

what are the two main criticisms of Milgrams study into obedience?

Answer 15

1. whether findings accurately reflect how people respond to authority figures
2. whether the study was ethical

Question 16

explain the first criticism of milgrams study: inaccurate results. HOWEVER:

Answer 16

• many argued pps didn’t really believe they were giving electric shocks - therefore not a valid demonstration of obedience to authority. HOWEVER pps did show signs of stress and 70%said it was real

Question 17

explain the second criticism of Milgrams study: ethics.

Answer 17

• protection from harm although 84% of pps said they were distressed
• deception although gave them a debriefing
• informed consent although no demand characteristics
• withdrawal

Question 18

what is a third criticism of milgrams study? BUT…

Answer 18

obedient behaviour would not be seen outside of lab setting as its unnatural BUT 21 out of 22 nurses listened to a bogus doctor and went against hospital procedures so it DID happen in real life situation

Question 19

what are the three explanations for obedience?

Answer 19

1. legitimacy of authority
2. agent state
3. authoritarian personality

Question 20

Explain what is meant by the explanation for obedience: legitimacy of authority.

Answer 20

people in certain roles have control over certain situations e.g. police officers, bouncers. their legitimacy of authority is often signalled by them wearing a uniform

Question 21

how can milgrams research support the idea of legitimacy of authority?

Answer 21

when the uniform of the researcher changed - white lab coat to everyday clothes obedience fell from 65% to 20%

Question 22

Explain what is meant by the explanation for obedience: agentic state

Answer 22

if we interact with a authority figure we assume they have full responsibility of whatever we do - go into agentic state - as if an instrument for authority figure, stay in state because may feel rude if we disobey authority figures

Question 23

how does milgrams research support the idea of the agentic state?

Answer 23

when pps was asked at the end why they gave electric shocks they responded with ‘I didn’t want to, he told me to do it’ supports individuals are obedient because they enter agentic state.

Question 24

why is the explanation for obedience authoritarian personality dispositional?

Answer 24

because it focuses on an individuals personality type not situational factors

Question 25

what was the procedures of the research into the authoritarian personality?

Answer 25

2000 American took part in a personality test testing their F-scale which is commonly used to measure the authoritarian personality

Question 26

what were 2 findings of this research into the AP?

Answer 26

1. people with authoritarian personalities had schemas that were rigid
2. they showed extreme respect to people with a higher status.
3. highly conscious of others and their own social status.

Question 27

what were the conclusions of he research into the AP

Answer 27

people with a authoritarian personality tend to be very obedient to authority

Question 28

explain 3 features of the authoritarian personality?

Answer 28

1. inflexible of what is right or wrong - had traditional values
2. more respect for people with higher status
3. believe country needs strong and forceful leaders

Question 29

what is a strength of the explanation into obedience the AP?

Answer 29

Milgram interviewed pps who was fully obedient in the original study and they scored high on the f-scale measure of AP

Question 30

what is a criticism of the explanation into obedience the AP?

Answer 30

although personality has an influence, the situational context is more important - personality cannot explain why the results of obedience changed in situational variable research. e.g. location, uniform ect..