Obedience- Situational variables

Question 1

What were Milgram’s 3 variations?

Answer 1

• Uniform
• Proximity
• Location

Question 2

What did Milgram do in the proximity variation?

Answer 2

• Placed teacher and learner in the same room (1)
• Touch proximity- experimenter forced teacher’s hand onto shock plate (2)
• Remote instruction- experimenter not present

Question 3

What were the findings from the proximity variation?

Answer 3

• Teacher and learner in the same room= obedience fell to 40%
• Touch proximity- 30%
• Remote instruction- 20.5%

Question 4

What is the explanation for the proximity variation findings?

Answer 4

Decreased proximity allows participant to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions. Teacher more obedient when physically separated from learner

Question 5

What did Milgram do in the Location variation?

Answer 5

• Baseline= Yale university
• Variation= run-down office block

Question 6

What were the findings from the location variation?

Answer 6

• Obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 7

What is the explanation for the location variation findings?

Answer 7

• Uni setting gave study legitimacy and authority
• Obedience still high, as participants perceived scientific nature of study

Question 8

What did Milgram do in the uniform variation?

Answer 8

• Baseline= experimenter wore lab coat
• Variation= role of experimenter replaced by a member of public (ordinary clothing)

Question 9

What were the findings from the uniform variation?

Answer 9

• Obedience dropped to 20% (lowest yet)

Question 10

What is the explanation for the uniform variation findings?

Answer 10

• Uniforms are a symbol of authority- encourage obedience

Question 11

What are the strengths of Milgram’s variations?

Answer 11

• Research support (Bickmann)
• Cross-cultural replication (Meeus and Raaijmakers)

Question 12

What are the limitations of Milgram’s variations?

Answer 12

• Lack cross-cultural validity
• Artificial task
• Danger of situational perspective

Question 13

STRENGTH-
What research support is there for situational variables on obedience?

Answer 13

• Bickman- 3 confederates, in 3 different outfits- jacket and tie, milkman’s outfit, security guard uniform- asked passers-by to perform tasks. Participants 2X more likely to obey security guard than man in jacket and tie

Question 14

STRENGTH-
What cross-cultural replications are there of Milgram’s research?

Answer 14

• Meeus and Raaijmakers tested obedience in Dutch participants- ordered to say stressful things to interviewee. 90% obeyed. Replicated proximity variation- when the person giving orders was not present, obedience decreased

Question 15

LIMITATION-
How do Milgrim’s variations lack cross-cultural validity?

Answer 15

• Smith and Bond identified only 2 replications between 1968-85 that took place in Jordan and India. Countries similar to the US produced frequent replications

Question 16

LIMITATION-
How are Milgram’s tasks artificial?

Answer 16

• Orne and Holland- participants faked behaviour- ‘play-acting’/ demand characteristics. When experimenter was replaced by member of public, some participants worked out the truth

Question 17

LIMITATION-
What are the dangers of the situational perspective?

Answer 17

• Mandel- argues it offers an excuse/alibi for ‘evil’ behaviour. Offensive to say Nazis were simply obeying orders. Ignores role of dispositional factors