Social Influence - Situational Variables

Question 1

What are the three situational variables affecting obedience ?
(Investigated by Milgram)

Answer 1

• Proximity
• Location
• Uniform

Question 2

What is Proximity?

Answer 2

Proximity refers to the distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving orders to.

Question 3

What is Location?

Answer 3

The place where the order is issued.
E.g Milgram moved from prestigious uni (Yale) to a run down office building

Question 4

What is Uniform ?

Answer 4

An outfit that is symbolic of their authority
E.g Scientist and Lab coat or a Judge and their wig

Question 5

Milgram’s findings on Proximity and why?

Answer 5

Obedience dropped from 65% to 21%
As the increased distance meant participants were more likely to return to an autonomous state

Question 6

Milgram’s findings on Location and why?

Answer 6

Obedience dropped from 65% to 47.5%
As the status of the location effected the researchers Legitimacy of authority

Question 7

Milgram’s findings on Uniform and why?

Answer 7

Obedience dropped from 65% to 20%
As the Legitimacy of authority decreased when the new experimenter came in dressed in normal clothing

Question 8

Strength of Situational variables: Research support ( Bickman)

Answer 8

P: Bickman’s research supports the influence of situational variables on behaviour, particularly obedience to authority.

E: In field experiments conducted in urban settings, Bickman varied the uniform of experimenters by dressing them in casual clothes, a security guard uniform, and a milkman’s outfit. They then asked pedestrians to perform tasks like picking up litter. Participants were significantly more likely to comply with requests when the experimenter wore a security guard uniform compared to the other.

E: This demonstrates that the perceived authority conveyed by the uniform influenced participants’ behaviour.

L: Therefore, Bickman’s study underscores the impact of situational variables , such as uniform, in shaping obedience. This supports and extends Milgram’s findings, emphasizing the importance of situational variables in understanding behavioural compliance in different contexts.

Question 9

Weakness of Situational variables : Low internal validity due to demand characteristics

Answer 9

P: One weakness of Milgram’s study of situational variables is it had low internal validity
E: Orne & Holland argued that the participants had worked out that the procedure was faked, and only acted that was due to demand characteristics
E: This may of lead to an artificial inflation of the effects of situational variables.
L: Therefore, the presence of Demand characteristics in Milgram’s research undermines the validity and reliability of the findings.