Week 7 Flashcards
What is obedience?
Change in behavior produced by direct command of an authority figure.
Why do we need obedience in society?
It helps maintain order and structure.
What is the “Nuremberg defense”?
Claiming to follow orders as a defense for war crimes, rejected in trials.
Who was Stanley Milgram?
A psychologist influenced by WWII and the Holocaust who studied obedience.
What was the Milgram Experiment?
A study where participants administered shocks to a learner to test obedience to authority.
How high did the shocks go in Milgram’s experiment?
Up to 450 volts.
What percentage of participants in Milgram’s study administered the maximum voltage?
65%
How did the proximity of authority affect obedience?
Closer proximity to the authority figure increased obedience.
What were Milgram’s two main theories to explain obedience?
Conformism and the agentic state.
What is “conformism”?
People defer to a group’s authority when they lack expertise or ability to make decisions.
What is the “agentic state”?
When people see themselves as instruments for carrying out another person’s wishes, losing personal responsibility.
What is Social Impact Theory on obedience?
It suggests that obedience is influenced by authority strength, proximity, and number of authority figures or learners.
What modifications did Burger make in his version of the Milgram study?
Stopped at 150 volts, provided more screening, and ensured participants could leave at any time.
What percentage of participants continued past 150 volts in Burger’s study?
70%.
