Social Influence: Situational influence

Question 1

Where was Milgram’s original study conducted?

Answer 1

Teacher and learner were in adjoining rooms so they could hear eachother but not see eachother

Question 2

Where was the proximity variation of Milgram’s study conducted?

Answer 2

The teacher and learner were in the same room

Question 3

What were the findings of the proximity variation?

Answer 3

The obedience rate dropped from 65% to 45%

Question 4

What was the touch proximity variation?

Answer 4

The teacher had to force the learners hand onto a shock plate

Question 5

What were the findings of the touch proximity variation?

Answer 5

The obedience rate dropped to 30%

Question 6

What were the conclusions of the proximity variations?

Answer 6

Decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions

Question 7

What was the location of Milgram’s original study?

Answer 7

At the prestigious Yale University

Question 8

What was the location of the variation?

Answer 8

In a run down building

Question 9

What were the findings of the location variation?

Answer 9

Obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 10

What were the conclusions of the location variation?

Answer 10

The university was legitimate and had authority

Question 11

What was the uniform in Milgram’s original study?

Answer 11

The experimentor wore a lab coat

Question 12

What was the uniform variation?

Answer 12

The experimentor took a phone call and was replaced by a member of the public in ordinary clothes

Question 13

What were the findings of the uniform variation?

Answer 13

Obedience fell to 20%

Question 14

What were the conclusions of the uniform variation?

Answer 14

Uniform acts as a strong symbol of legitimate authority

Question 15

What is the strength of situational variables that suggests there is evidence to support?

Answer 15

• Bickman’s confederates dressed in different outfits and issued demands such as picking up litter in NYC
• People were twice as likely to obey security guard rather than jacket/tie or milkman
• Situational variable such as uniform has a powerful effect

Question 16

What is the strength of situational variables that suggests there is cross cultural replication?

Answer 16

• Miranda et al replicated with Spanish students and 90% obeyed
• Findings are not limited to American males but valid across cultures

Question 17

What is the limitation of situational variables that suggests there is low internal validity?

Answer 17

• Orne + Holland suggested that the variations were even more suspicious than the baseline study due to extra experimental maniupulation
• Eg. Experimentor replaced by member of public seemed contrived and may have worked it out
• Unclear if results were due to obedience or play acting

Question 17

What is the limitation that suggests that the situational variations can be dangerous?

Answer 17

• Mandel argues that situational perspective offer excuse or alibi for genocide
• Oversimplify cause of Holocaust and are offensive to survivors
• Permits people to excuse desrtuctive behaviour by saying ‘ I was just following orders’ and can get away with anything

Question 18

Who are the key thinkers of situational variables?

Answer 18

Milgram
Bickman
Miranda et al
Orne + Holland
Mandel

Question 19

What are the titles of the evaluation points of situational variables?

Answer 19

• Evidence to support
• Cross cultural replications
• Low internal validity
• Can be dangerous

Question 20

What did Bickman argue as a strength of situational variables?

Answer 20

Confederates dressed in different clothes and ordered people to pick up litter in NYC. People 2x more likely to obey security guards rather than jacket/tie or milkman

Question 21

What did Miranda et al argue as a strength of situational variables?

Answer 21

Replication with Spanish students and found 90% obeyed

Question 21

What did Orne + Holland suggest as a limitation of situational variables?

Answer 21

Extra experimental manipulation caused greater suspicion and replacement of experimentor with everyday clothes seemed contrived, ppts play acted

Question 22

What did Mandel argue as a limitation of situational variables?

Answer 22

Can be dangerous bc offer excuse or alibi for genocide and get away with anything bc they were ‘just following orders’