Migram's test of obedience to authority figures Flashcards
Why did Milgram want to study this ?
He wanted to understand the psychology behind the Nazis and wanted to understand how Hitler managed to manipulate The Nazi’s to Hurt Millions of innocent people .
He wanted to test this by testing obedience towards authority figures .
How did Milgram Gather participants?
-He put and advert out asking for participants to take part in a study on Learning/ pain and memory .
-At Yale university which increased the legitimacy .
-He offered then $4.00 and to pay their fares too and from the university
-40 Male Adults showed up = Cannot be generalised to the entire population .
What happened in the study ?
-The participants arrived at Yale
-They were told they had the right to leave at any time
-They got told to pick a role out of a hat (This was rigged -Mr Wallace [Confederate ] Was always the learner and the real participant was always the teacher )
-The participants and Mr Wallace were brought to a room where Mr Wallace was placed ,during this he asked the researcher about his heart troubles and was told ,in front of the participant , that the experiment is painful but not dangerous .
-The participant was put in a room next door with the researcher .
-The participant was in front of a shock board with buttons which were supposed to cause shocks ranging from 15 V (Light shock ) to 450 V (danger )
-The participant was told to shock Mr Wallace each time he got a incorrect answer ,going up each time .Silence was classed as a incorrect answer .
Results ?
-100% went up to 300 V
-35% stopped between 300v-375v
-65% went to the top of the shock board
What was the researcher scripted to say during the study?
-“please continue”
-“the experiment required you to continue “
-“it is absolutely essential that you continue “
-“you have no choice ,you must go on”
What was Mr Wallace scripted to say during the experiment ?
-“I can’t bear the pain any longer “ - 180v
-Screamed and said his heart was troubling him at 300v
- Became silent - 315v
Was the experiment ethical ?
NOPE
The participants showed signed of stress (E.G. Stutter ,laughing ect) which indicates this was distressing for them to continue
-Participants may have long term effects from knowing they are emotionally able to hurt someone innocent just because someone in a authority figure told them to .
