07. Factors Affecting Obedience: Situation and Culture Flashcards
(32 cards)
Name 4 situational factors.
- Gradual commitment
- Proximity
- Legitimacy- status of authority
- Behaviour of others
How does gradual commitment effect obedience?
-People are more likely to obey if there is gradual commitment.
-Trivial requests initially then request increases (duty bound to continue)
-Binding relationship (binding factors)
Describe gradual commitment.
When participants gradually build a relationship with the legitimate authority without knowing. They would first complete a small task, then do larger ones when requested by the legitimate authority due to gradual building of trust between the legitimate authority and the participant.
What is an example of gradual commitment?
In Milgram’s study, the voltage going up in 15V increments starting from low 15V but ending at 450V
Describe proximity.
The closeness between participants and legitimate authority, this could be determined by whether there is a physical or psychological buffer between them. It is also suggested that as proximity increases, obedience decreases.
How does proximity effect obedience?
-When distance increases, obedience decreases.
-Latane uses the term immediacy, meaning closeness in space and time.
-Physical distance can act like a buffer to obedience.
What is the definition of buffer?
A psychological or physical barrier. Buffers are anything that reduce the immediacy and impact of the orders given, or reduce the immediacy and impact of the victim.
What are some examples of buffers coming into play?
-When physical buffers were removed (learner and teacher in same room) obedience dropped to only 30%
-The shock generator created created a psychological buffer (more inclined to use machinery rather than doing something first hand)
What is an example of proximity?
Milgram’s telephone variation.
What is an example of when physical distance can act like a buffer to obedience?
-Telephonic conditions in Milgram’s variation studies.
-When physical buffers were removed (learner and teacher in the same room) obedience dropped to only 30%
-The shock generator created a psychological buffer (more inclined to use machinery rather than doing something first hand)
Describe legitimacy.
The status of the person giving the orders effects the obedience levels of those receiving the orders. If the person giving orders has legitimate (hierarchical) or perceived authority, they are more likely to to obeyed as there is a fear of consequences and punishment.
How does legitimacy effect obedience?
Legitimacy: Status of authority
-Perceived legitimacy pf authority figure an be lowered by changing their clothing, eg the ordinary man, rather than the experimenter in a grey coat. Similarly the prestige of the venue can influence obedience, eg run down office in comparison to Yale university.
-In Milgram’s ordinary an variation obedience dropped from 65% to 20%
What is an example of legitimacy?
Milgram’s ordinary man variation
Describe behaviour of others.
When an order is given, the behaviour of others effects levels of obedience. If others obey, people are more likely to follow along and mimic their obedient behaviour, however if there is a role model who is disobedient, others will feel more confident to speak up and go against the authority figure as well.
How does the behaviour of others effect obedience?
-Expose to role models who are disobedient decreases obedience.
-Milgram variation: Two ‘peer rebels’ further teachers in the room rebelled and refused to carry on. Obedience fell to only 10%
Describe the supporting study of proximity (Milgram’s ordinary man variation)
Milgram’s ‘ordinary man’ variation showed that obedience dropped to 20% when the orders to administer the shocks were given by a confederate who the participant believed was just another participant, rather than in the baseline study when instructions were given by the experimenter who had legitimate authority and obedience was 65%. This supports the situational factor of legitimacy of authority, as the lower the authority of the person giving the order, the lower the obedience of the participant.
Describe the supporting study of proximity (Milgram’s telephonic variation).
-The situational factor of proximity is supported by research in Milgram’s variation when the order was given over the phone. This resulted in obedience to administer shocks up to 450V of only 22.5% compared to 65% in the baseline condition when the experimenter was present in the room.
-This research supports the theory that close proximity increases obedience, as Milgram’s telephonic variation showed that obedience dropped to only 22.5% compared to 65% when there was greater proximity.
Describe the real life application of situational factors conducted by James Gramann (1995)
-Tested the effect of immediacy and legitimacy to improve compliance with countryside rules which protect wildlife and lower the risk of forest fires.
-They positioned signs explaining the rules and showing consequences if people were convicted of breaking them.
-They found that if information was provided on signs about the reasons behind countryside rules, then this increases the likelihood that participants felt they would obey.
-Such reminders of the rules prove ‘immediacy’ even when there is no authority figure around and they cause impact and a reminder of strength as they indicate the power that could potentially be brought to bear (eg being fined if caught).
What did Milgram believe about the nature VS nurture debate in regards to cultural differences?
-Milgram believed it is human nature to obey and the situation affects the level of obedience.
-A different theory is that there are two main types of cultures (nurture) which also influence behaviour.
Define nature.
Born with characteristics, which determine behaviour.
Define nurture.
The environment dictates behvaiour.
Describe a collectivist culture.
Collectivist cultures value loyalty to the group, duty, interdependence and cooperation in pursuit of group goals. About ‘we’ and stress is on the importance of the whole group as a collective. They tend to be more likely to obey.
(Eg Russia, Korea, Japan)
Describe an individualist culture.
Individualist cultures value personal autonomy (responsible for oneself) and self-reliance. About ‘I’ and the emphasis is on individualism within the group. They are less likely to obey and may be more likely to resist and instruction from an authority figure.
(Eg UK, USA)
Describe the power distance index (PDI) by Hofstede in 2017.
-Hofstede identified six dimensions which allow for comparison between countries regarding their cultural values.
-The PDI refers to how accepting people are of hierarchical order and inequality in society.
-Therefore we would expect cultures with a high PDI would lead a person to be highly obedient (as they respect authority and expect subordinates to do as they are told).
-People from nations low on the PDI index might be more likely to show resistance or dissent (protests).
