Milgram

Question 1

autonomous state

Answer 1

we perceive ourselves to be responsible
for our own behaviour so we feel guilt for what we do.
E.g. participants who left
Milgram’s study before 450v.

Question 2

agentic state

Answer 2

we obey an authority figure. We perceive ourselves to be agent of someone else’s will; the authority figure commanding us is responsible for what we do so we feel no guilt.
E.g. Participants who continued to give shocks in Milgram’s study because they no longer felt responsible for their actions.

Question 3

moral strain

Answer 3

the feeling of guilt/anxiety you get for going against your conscience
when being ordered by an authority figure.

Question 4

milgram OG aim

Answer 4

test how far ordinary people go when being ordered to give electric shocks (Germans are different
– holocaust)

Question 5

milgram OG sample

Answer 5

40 men aged 20-50 were obtained via volunteer sampling through a newspaper advertisement
and paid for their time ($4), being told they would be taking part in a human learning
experiment, located at Yale University.

Question 6

milgram OG procedure

Answer 6

-participant had to teach words to Mr Wallace(fixed draw
-ppt given 45v shock
-told to shocks learner every wrong answer in 15V increments
-if they refused they were given verbal prompts like you have no choice u must continue

Question 7

milgram OG results

Answer 7

100% went to 300v
65% went to 450
-nervous laughter and trembling observed

Question 8

milgram conclusion

Answer 8

‘ordinary’ people obey orders from an authority figure in extreme conditions even if they feel uncomfortable about doing so.

Question 9

Milgram v7 aim

Answer 9

To see if proximity has an effect on obedience levels

Question 10

Milgram v7 sample

Answer 10

40 ppt

Question 11

milgram v7 procedure

Answer 11

The study progressed like the original with a rigged draw, first real shock etc.
* After giving the initial instructions the experimenter left the room leaving the participant with a telephone and the shock generator
* If the teachers have questions or doubts, they must phone the experimenter.
* The “prods” are delivered over the telephone.

Question 12

milgram v7 results

Answer 12

The results fell from 65% to 22.5%.
* They lied about increasing the voltage and continued to give low level shocks.

Question 13

milgram v7 conclusion

Answer 13

This shows that proximity to an authority figure has an impact on obedience (obedience decreases as people get further from the authority figure)

Question 14

milgram v10 aim

Answer 14

Milgram wanted to see if changing from prestigious Yale would have an effect on obedience levels

Question 15

milgram v10 sample

Answer 15

40 participants were recruited through a mailshot (by post).

Question 16

milgram v10 method

Answer 16

• The experiment was relocated from Yale University to a small commercial office in Bridgeport
• They were told research was being conducted by ‘research associates of Bridgeport’ (a private company).
• The experiments were conducted in a three-room office suite in a run-down commercial building which
  was sparsely furnished.
• The rest of the procedure continued as in the original (rigged draw, prods, shocks etc)

Question 17

milgram v10 results

Answer 17

48% continued to give the 450v shock. Participants also questioned the credentials of the company

Question 18

milgram v10 conclusion

Answer 18

This shows that perceived authority/perceived responsibility impacted obedience.

Question 19

milgram v13 aim

Answer 19

To study the impact of power relations on obedience. To see whether an ordinarily dressed man giving
the instructions would affect the results.

Question 20

milgram v13 sample

Answer 20

There were 20 participants in this study.

Question 21

milgram v13 method

Answer 21

• Three ‘participants’ (two confederates) arrived and did the rigged draw (the extra confederate was given
  the job to write down times etc)
• They strapped the learner into the chair but didn’t tell the teacher to increase the level of shocks to give.
• The experimenter received a phone call to leave the room. He said that the teacher should keep the
  learner practicing the words.
• The second confederate (who was recording stuff for the experimenter)
• Suggested increasing the shocks every-time the learner got the answers wrong.

Question 22

milgram v13 results

Answer 22

There was only a 20% obedience level (16/20 refused)
* The 16 participants who refused were taken into a second part (but continued instantly and therefore is
still #13). The second confederate suggested swapping places so that now they were giving the shocks
and the real ppt just had to watch.
* All 16 ppts protested and 5 physically restrained the learner. The 11 who went to 450V = 68.75%