Social Psychology Flashcards
Milgram’s Variation 7 Procedure
The procedure was the same aside from the location of the experimenter. Instead of being given verbal prods the participants would have to telephone the experimenter if they wanted to leave the study.
Milgram’s Variation 7 Results
The results fell from 65% to 22.5%. Participants were able to lie about increasing the shocks and continued to give low level shocks.
Milgram’s Variation 7 Conclusion
This variation shows that the proximity to an authority figure has an impact on obedience.
Milgram’s Variation 10 Procedure
The procedure remained the same but the experiment was moved from Yale to a small commercial office in Bridgeport. It was conducted in a run down commercial building with 3 sparsely furnished rooms.
Milgram’s Variation 10 Results
48% of participants still went up to 450V. Participants questioned the credentials of the company.
Milgram’s Variation 10 Conclusion
This variation shows that perceived authority has an impact on obedience.
Milgram’s Variation 13 Procedure
In this variation, the main experimenter who was sitting in the room with the participant got called away for a phone call during the experiment. When he was gone, another participant (actually a confederate) took his role as the experimenter. This “participant” was not initially introduced to the actual participant as the experimenter, nor was he wearing a lab coat.
Milgram’s Variation 13 Results
Only a 20% obedience level.
Evaluation of Milgram’s Studies (Strengths)
- standardised procedures
*high amount of controls (lab experiment, increased validity)
*Men from varying jobs and backgrounds increases generalisability.
*less chance of demand characteristics as the ppts don’t know the study is about obedience.
Evaluation of Milgram’s Study (Limitations)
- No informed consent
*Ppts were deceived - Issues with withdrawal due to the 4 verbal prods
*Lacks ecological validity and mundane realism
*Very ungeneralizable due to sample being all American men and self-selected.
What is an autonomous state?
In the autonomous state people use their free will and feel personal responsibility for their actions
What is moral strain?
Moral strain occurs when we are asked to do something we view as morally wrong by an authority figure. It could be described as guilt
What is agentic shift?
Agentic shift occurs if the authority figure is legitimate or the person knows they will take the blame for any consequences. Agentic shifts stop the feeling of moral strain.
What is the agentic state?
In the agentic state we are following the orders of authority figures and do not take responsibility for our own actions.
Agency theory ao3
Milgrams original study-65% went to 450v
Criticism- the concept of agency and autonomy is hard to define