Factors Affecting Obedience: Situational Factors

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Milgram said status of location impacts on obedience - obedience dropped to 48% when it was in a run down office building instead of Yale.

Question 2

Prescience of allies

Answer 2

Having an ally can build confidence and allow individuals to remain independent. Individuals who have support for their point of view no longer fear being ridiculed, allowing them to avoid normative social influence. Further, individuals who have support for their point of view are more likely to disobey orders. If other people are there and refuse to obey, obedience goes down. (Milgram) Only 10% if 2 confederates refused to obey.

Question 3

Diluted responsibility

Answer 3

In milgrams study some felt that because they were told to deliver shocks it was not their responsibility if something happened (90% if the assistant pushes button) This links to the theory of agentic behaviour, when someone enters an agentic state they pass the consequences on.

Question 4

Proximity of authority figure

Answer 4

People are more likely be obey an authority figure who is in close proximity. Obedience dropped to 21% when experimenter was no longer in the room (milgram)